hybridization, but very simple

[Kylie McCauley 1D]

hi,

to determine the hybridization of atoms on a molecule, do you just count the regions of electron density? So, if there are 5 regions of electron density, it would be sp3d ?

[Ivan Chen 2H]

Basically. Just count groups of bonds and lone pairs.

[Kayko Lee 1C]

That's right! and if there's 3 regions of electron density it would be sp2 as such

[SainehaMaddineni_3I]

Yes! For hybridization, you count the regions of electron density. So, single bonds, double bonds, and triple bonds all count as 1 region of electron density (the type of bond doesn't affect the number of regions of electron density). 5 regions of electron density should be a hybridization of sp3d.

[Vince Li 2A]

Yup. One of the strategies I use to quickly determine the hybridization is by looking at how many bonding regions there are, and just go up by s, then p, then d. For example, for CH4, there are four bonding groups. As a result, it would be s and then p3. This adds to 4 bonding groups. It is important to note that a double bond bonding region counts for the same as a single bonding region.

[Janna Shakiba]

I don't know if you saw, but there's a great table in Sapling that summarizes all of them. If you can't find it email me and I'll send you a screenshot.

[Chenning Yang Dis3l]

Just count groups of bonds and lone pairs will help determine that!

[Jerry_T]

Yes its very simple.
2 regions of e- density -> sp
3 regions of e- density -> sp²
4 regions of e- density -> sp³
5 regions of e- density -> sp³d
... etc.

[Rayna Irving 2C]

Yes, just remember that each single, double, triple, etc. bond still only count as one region of electron density and each lone pair also only counts as one region of electron density.

[Isaias Gomez D3A]

yes, simply add up the atoms and lone pairs attached to find hybridization. This YouTube video helped me: https://youtu.be/4xl0BD-tMeA