Question

Determine the hybridization around the central atom for each of the following molecules.

a) HCN

b) C(CH3)4

c) H3O+

d) - CH3

Answer 1

a) HCN - hybridization sp

b) C(CH₃)₄ - hybridization sp³

c) H₃O⁺ - hybridization sp³

d) - CH₃ - hybridization sp³

Step-by-step explanation:

Hybridization occurs to allow an atom to make more covalent bonds than the original electronic distribution would allow or to allocate ligands in an energetically stable geometry.

Carbon can have thre hybridization states: sp³ , sp² and sp.

Oxygen usualluy has an sp³ hybridization.

In order to determine the hybridization, we need to consider the number of atoms attached to the central atom and the number of lone pairs.

The figure attached shows the species and the hybridization of their central atoms.