Hybridization
▶ sp³ hybridized orbitals and sigma bonds
Learn about sp³ hybridized orbitals and sigma bonds.
▶ sp² hybridized orbitals and pi bonds
Learn about sp² hybridized orbitals and pi bonds.
▶ sp³ hybridization
In sp³ hybridization, one s orbital and three p orbitals hybridize to form four sp³ orbitals, each consisting of 25% s character and 75% p character. This type of hybridization is required whenever an atom is surrounded by four groups of electrons.
▶ Steric number
One way to determine the hybridization of an atom is to calculate its steric number, which is equal to the number of sigma bonds surrounding the atom plus the number of lone pairs on the atoms. In this video, we focus on atoms with a steric number of 4, which corresponds to sp³ hybridization.
▶ sp² hybridization
In sp² hybridization, one s orbital and two p orbitals hybridize to form three sp² orbitals, each consisting of 33% s character and 67% p character. This type of hybridization is required whenever an atom is surrounded by three groups of electrons.
▶ sp hybridization
In sp hybridization, one s orbital and one p orbital hybridize to form two sp orbitals, each consisting of 50% s character and 50% p character. This type of hybridization is required whenever an atom is surrounded by two groups of electrons.
▶ Worked examples: Finding the hybridization of atoms in organic molecules
We can find the hybridization of an atom in a molecule by either looking at the types of bonds surrounding the atom or by calculating its steric number. In this video, we use both of these methods to determine the hybridizations of atoms in various organic molecules.
▶ Tetrahedral bond angle proof
Mathematical proof of the bond angles in methane (a tetrahedral molecule).
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