Final answer:
The hybrid orbitals that combine one s orbital and three p orbitals result in four sp³ orbitals, which arrange in a tetrahedral geometry and can form a molecule such as CH4.
Step-by-step explanation:
The hybrid orbitals of a molecule are most likely formed by mixing one s orbital and three p orbitals. This combination leads to the formation of four equivalent hybrid orbitals known as sp³ orbitals. Each sp³ orbital contains a more prominent lobe and a smaller lobe, showing that it has one-fourth s character and three-fourths p character. These sp³ orbitals arrange themselves in a tetrahedral geometry around the nucleus. For instance, in a carbon atom with four valence electrons, each electron would occupy one of the four sp³ hybrid orbitals, which could then overlap with other orbitals, such as the s orbitals of hydrogen atoms, to form a CH4 molecule.