Chemical reasoning for hybridization

[Rachel Wang]

I can tell what kind of hybridization an atom has, but I don't understand the chemical reasoning behind hybridization.

[Ayona Sengupta]

As far as I'm aware, hybridization is more of a theoretical concept. It's supposed to explain certain structural issues that other bonding theories like VSEPR can't. Conceptually though, it's just different orbital interfering either constructively or destructively to give rise to equivalent orbitals. So essentially old orbitals mixing and then rising or falling to reach the same state, if that makes sense.

[Raymond Zhang 3H]

I can tell what kind of hybridization an atom has, but I don't understand the chemical reasoning behind hybridization.

Hybridization occurs because the electron orbitals "fill up" with two in each orbital, then cannot form bonds. When hybridization occurs, an electron from an already filled orbital moves into an empty one. Thus, two bonds can be formed from the two electrons, rather than zero.