Question

Consider the hydrogen cyanide molecule, HCN. If we orient this linear molecule so it is along the x axis, what orbitals on carbon are involved in the formation of the sp hybrid?

Answer 1

2s and 2pₓ

Step-by-step explanation:

The figure below shows the orbitals of HCN.

The sp orbitals on C are formed by the hybridization of its 2s orbital and its 2pₓ orbital .

2s + 2p ⟶ 2sp + 2sp