Hybridization

[Odalys Cuevas 1C]

I am having trouble with this topic. Can someone explain what hybridization is and how to determine it? Also what does it mean to be unhybridized?

Thank you

[Samantha Draghi 1L]

Hybridization is the mixing of orbitals. You can determine it by figuring out how many regions of electron density there are around a certain atoms. For example if there are 4 regions of electron density the hybridization will be sp3 (s, p, p, p) This will also help to determine the shape of the molecule.

[MeghetyManoyan1A]

Hybridization is when atomic orbitals interfere with each other/combine and form new orbitals, specifically 4 orbitals of equal energy. For example, for sp^3 orbitals, the energy level lies above that of s and below p. The bonds that hybrid orbitals form are stronger than those formed with unhybridized orbitals. Unhybridized orbitals are the normal orbitals at the ground state of the atom.

[Heung Ching Chia 1E]

Hybridization is the mixing of atomic orbitals to form new orbitals with different energies and shapes than the original orbitals.
I think the mixing of the different types of atomic orbitals allows the atom to form more equal energy bonds and thus the result is a more stable molecule.

To determine it: It will be SP hybridized when there are 2 regions of electron density; SP2 hybridized when there are 3 regions of e- density; SP3 hybridized when there are 4 regions of e- density around the central atom and so on.