Answer:
- sp³ hydbridization is the formation of 4 equal hybrid orbtials (same characteristcs) by the hybridization ("mixture") of two different kind of orbitals: 1 type s orbtial and 3 type p orbitals.
Step-by-step explanation:
This hybridization is the result of the rearragement of the valence electrons that originally are in s and p orbitals, forming the new hybrid orbitals (sp³).
This is easily explained with carbon atom.
- Carbon has atomic number 6, hence it has 6 electrons.
- Thus, the electron configuration of carbon is: 1 s² 2s² 2p².
- So, there are four valence electrons that are in the 2s and 2p orbitals.
- The hybridization consists in that the four valence electons, instead of remain in two different energy levels (s and p) will form 4 orbitals, named sp³, each with the same energy.
- In summary the four electrons originally distributed as 2s² 2p² will be located as 2 sp³.