Electron density question

[William Cryer 1L]

Do the lone pairs of electrons in an atom count as a region of electron density? That is, will it effect the type hybridization (sp, sp2, etc)?

[Wenjie Dong 2E]

It will. For example, NH3 has a lone pair in N and its hybridization is sp3.

[Akash_Kapoor_1L]

Yeah it does! Here's a helpful chart http://web.gccaz.edu/~chriy68124/VSEPR%20handout.pdf

Also, remember that you can use the AXE format to decipher the VSEPR geometric shape...

[Kelly Kiremidjian 1C]

yes each lone pair counts as another region of electron density

[Yiwei Zhou 2I]

Single, double and triple bonds count as one region of electron density.
Paired elections or an unpaired electron also count as one region of electron density.