Final Answer:
The hybridization best describing the circled atom is sp₂
Step-by-step explanation:
The circled atom in the given structure is the carbon atom in the middle, which is bonded to three atoms (one hydrogen and two oxygen) and has a double bond with one of the oxygen atoms. To determine the hybridization of this atom, we need to examine the molecular orbitals (MOs) of the atom.
The carbon atom in the middle has a tetrahedral geometry, which means that it has four equivalent hybrid orbitals. These hybrid orbitals are formed by combining one s and three p orbitals of the carbon atom. The three p orbitals of the carbon atom mix with one s orbital to form four equivalent hybrid orbitals, which are oriented along the four corners of a tetrahedron.
The sp₂ hybridization is the most suitable description for the hybridization of the circled carbon atom because it has two sigma bonds (one with each of the two oxygen atoms) and two pi bonds (one with each of the two oxygen atoms). The two sigma bonds are formed by the overlap of the s orbitals, while the two pi bonds are formed by the overlap of the p orbitals. The sp₂ hybridization is characterized by the mixing of one s and two p orbitals, which results in the formation of four equivalent hybrid orbitals.