2F.7

[Annie Ye]

Identify the hybrid orbitals used by the atom in boldface red type in each of the following species: (a) BF3; (b) AsF3; (c) BrF3; (d) SeF31.

[AArmellini_1I]

What I do first is draw the lewis structures. The number of electron dense regions corresponds with the hybridization orbital. For hybridization orbitals it go s, p1, p2, p3, d1, d2, d3, d4, d5 and so on (I believe)

[Julie Park 1G]

You'll first want to find the # of electron densities surrounding the atom in question. In (a), BF3, B is bonded to three F atoms in single bonds. According to the chart, the three bonds (electron densities) would give the B in BF3 to a s1p2 (sp2) hybrid orbital.

1 --> s1
2 --> s1p1
3 --> s1p2
4 --> s1p3
5 --> d1s1p3