Hybridisation and Bond angles

Question 1

What is Hybridisation?

Answer 1

• The formation of a set of hybrid orbitals with favourable directional characteristics by mixing together two or more valence orbitals of the same atom.

Question 2

How does carbon Hybridise?

Answer 2

• Carbon shares 4 electrons to form 4 covalent bonds
• 2 x 2s electrons + 2 x 2p electrons are available
• Gives 4x sp³

Question 3

How do you determine what type of hybridisation an atom has? (e.g. sp³/sp²/sp)

Answer 3

• Determine how many sigma bonds the atom has
• then the formula is:
  
  • Hybridisation no. = no of sigma bonds+number of lone pairs-1
  • therefore if an atom has 4 sigma bonds, the hybridisation type is sp³
• Generally alkanes are sp³, alkenes are sp², and alkynes are sp.

Question 4

What angle do 2 single bonds make?

Answer 4

109 degrees

Question 5

What angle does one single and one double bond make?

Answer 5

120 degrees

Question 6

What angle does a single and triple bond make?

Answer 6

180 degrees