Video Transcript
During the formation of chemical
bonds, hybridization can occur. Atomic orbitals merge together
mathematically to form hybrid orbitals. What hybrid orbitals are formed
when one s orbital and three p orbitals all hybridize? (A) Four sp2 orbitals, (B) two sp2
orbitals, (C) four sp3 orbitals, (D) one sp3 orbital, (E) three sp3 orbitals.
As the question states,
hybridization is when the mathematical functions described by the atomic orbitals
are mixed together to form hybrid orbitals. These hybrid orbitals have new and
different shapes. Say we have electrons in s and p
orbitals. The hybridization process begins
with one of the electrons in an s orbital getting promoted to an empty p
orbital. These four unpaired electrons, one
in the s orbital and three in the p orbital, will merge together to create four
identical sp3 hybrid orbitals.
We can start off with a different
number of unpaired electrons to create different kinds of hybrid orbitals. Unpaired electrons in 1s orbital
and 2p orbitals will hybridize to give us three sp2 orbitals. And unpaired electrons in 1s and 1p
orbital hybridize to give us two sp orbitals. This question asked us which hybrid
orbitals are formed, when 1s and 3p orbitals hybridize. As we just saw, this will give us
four sp3 orbitals, which is answer choice (C).
