How to determine Hybridization - s, sp, sp2, and sp3 - Organic Chemistry

This video is about figuring out how to determine the hybridization of each element in its structure. Orbital hybridization is the concept of mixing atomic orbitals into new hybrid orbitals suitable for the pairing of electrons to form chemical bonds in valence bond theory.




To determine the hybridization of each element in a molecule, you can follow these steps:

1. Draw the Lewis structure of the molecule: The Lewis structure shows the arrangement of atoms and valence electrons around each atom.

2. Determine the number of valence electrons for each atom: This is the sum of all the valence electrons of the atoms in the molecule. You can find this information in the periodic table.

3. Count the number of electron pairs around each atom: Lone pairs and bonded electron pairs both count as one electron pair.

4. Determine the steric number of each atom: The steric number is the sum of the number of bonded atoms and the number of lone pairs around an atom.

5. Use the steric number to identify the hybridization of the atom:

- Steric number 2: The atom has two electron pairs and is sp hybridized.
- Steric number 3: The atom has three electron pairs and is sp2 hybridized.
- Steric number 4: The atom has four electron pairs and is sp3 hybridized.

6. Assign hybrid orbitals to each atom: Once you determine the hybridization, assign hybrid orbitals to each atom accordingly.

For example, in water (H2O) molecule:

1. Draw the Lewis structure of water: H-O-H.

2. Determine the number of valence electrons for each atom: Hydrogen (H) has 1 valence electron, and Oxygen (O) has 6.

3. Count the number of electron pairs around each atom: Each hydrogen has one bonded electron pair, and oxygen has two lone pairs and two bonded electron pairs.

4. Determine the steric number of each atom: The hydrogen atoms have a steric number of 1, and the oxygen atom has a steric number of 4.

5. Use the steric number to identify the hybridization: Each hydrogen is sp hybridized, and the oxygen is sp3 hybridized.

6. Assign hybrid orbitals to each atom: Each hydrogen atom uses an sp hybrid orbital, and the oxygen atom uses an sp3 hybrid orbital.

Remember, this is a simplified explanation, and the actual hybridization can get more complex in some cases. Additionally, this method applies to molecules that follow the rules of valence bond theory.