## sp2 hybridization

$sp, sp^{2}, sp^{3}, dsp^{3}, d^{2}sp^{3}$

Erin Jannusch
Posts: 14
Joined: Fri Sep 29, 2017 7:07 am

### sp2 hybridization

Can someone please explain why BF3 is sp2 hybridized? I don't understand how boron, having the electron configuration of [He] 2s2 2p1, and flourine, with the electron configuration [He] 2s2 2p5, mix one s-orbital with two p-orbitals to produce three sp2 hybrid orbitals.

juchung7
Posts: 44
Joined: Fri Sep 29, 2017 7:05 am

### Re: sp2 hybridization

Since there are 3 fluorides, Boron needs 3 lone electrons to bond with them. Since Boron has an electron config. of 1s2 2s2 2p1, an electron in the 2s orbital is excited into a 2p orbital (left with 1s2 2s1 2px1 2py1) which leaves us with 3 orbitals containing lone electrons thus 3 lone electrons. Since there is one s orbital and 2 p orbitals involved, we call them sp2 hybrid orbitals

Emma Boyles 1L
Posts: 19
Joined: Thu Jul 27, 2017 3:00 am

### Re: sp2 hybridization

There are three regions of electron density around BF3 making it sp2 hybridized as hybridization is determined by the number of regions of electron density around that atom.
The one s orbital and 2/3 of the p orbitals are used in the hybridization. The third p orbital remains unhybridized.

Hope this helps!

Brigitte Phung 1F
Posts: 50
Joined: Thu Jul 27, 2017 3:00 am
Been upvoted: 1 time

### Re: sp2 hybridization

I agree with the others. I prefer to think of hybridization as the number of attachments to the central atom, with bonds and lone pairs each acting as one attachment. Boron has three Fluorides attached to it, so it is sp2 hybridized. Hope this helps!

Kyle Reidy 3H
Posts: 19
Joined: Fri Sep 29, 2017 7:06 am

### Re: sp2 hybridization

Then, just to be clear, the boron atom now has an "empty" p orbital? I realize these aren't real compartments, but that's the best way I understand it at the moment.

ami patel
Posts: 20
Joined: Thu Jul 27, 2017 3:00 am

### Re: sp2 hybridization

the p orbital is not empty but rather it is combined with the s orbital to create an intermediate sp orbital. I hope this helps