Hybridization

[Nicholas Kull_3L]

Is there a difference between the hybridization and atomic orbitals?

[Sydney To 1D]

Hybridization is the mixing of two non equivalent atomic orbitals. The result of hybridization is the hybrid orbital. Different types and numbers of atomic orbitals are participating in making hybrid orbitals. Different atomic orbitals have different shapes and number of electrons. But all the hybrid orbitals are equivalent and have the same electron number. It is also good to recognize that hybrid orbitals normally participate in covalent sigma bond formation, whereas atomic orbitals participate in both sigma and pi bond formation.

[George Ghaly 2L]

They are completely different atomic orbitals are the electrons surrounding an atom, while hybridization refers to the mixing of different orbitals to form a mixture of bonds.