Covalent Molecules 3: Orbital Hybridisation

Question 1

How do orbitals hybridise in carbon and why?

Answer 1

S and P orbitals hybridise (s goes up, p comes down)
Creates four identical orbitals called the tetrahedral orbitals (sp3)
Sometimes not all the orbitals combine

Question 2

How are sp3 orbitals formed?

Answer 2

1 s orbital and 3 p orbitals

Question 3

How are sp2 orbitals formed?

Answer 3

1 s orbital and 2 p orbitals

Question 4

How are sp orbitals formed?

Answer 4

1 s orbital and 1 p orbital

Question 5

How are sigma bonds formed?

Answer 5

By the overlap of two hybrid orbitals

Question 6

How are pi bonds formed?

Answer 6

By the combination of two p orbtials

Question 7

Describe the carbon orbitals in methane.

Answer 7

Four carbon sp3 orbitals which overlap with the s orbitals form the hydrogen atoms
This is sigma bonding
Bond angle 109

Question 8

Describe the carbon orbitals in ethyne.

Answer 8

Contains sp hybridised carbon
Triple bond between two carbons so only one other bond for the carbon to form
Two pi orbitals are formed by the combination of p orbitals from each carbon
Bond angle 180

Question 9

Describe the carbon orbitals in formaldehyde/methanal.

Answer 9

Carbon and oxygen are both sp2 hybridised
Sigma bond formed by overlap of hybrid orbitals
Unhybridised p orbitals on carbon and oxygen form a pi bond