Electron Density

[Sarina Mak 1B]

When counting bonds and lone pairs for electron density to figure number of hybrid orbitals, do we only count the bonds and not the lone pairs?

[Jason Nguyen_1B]

When we are determining hybridization, we count the number of electron density regions which includes bonds as well as lone pairs. For example, NH3 has 3 single bonds and 1 lone pair. Since we count both the bonds and lone pairs, NH3 has 4 regions of electron density thus it is SP3 hybridized. And just for clarification, double bonds and triple bonds count as one region of electron density.

[Lauren Mungo 1K]

You should also count the lone pairs as they count as regions of electron density.

[Anna Martin 2l]

I believe you count both lone pairs and bonding pairs because they are both considered regions of electron density!

[DominicMalilay 1F]

Count lone pairs and regions of electron density. A double bond is still 1 region of electron density as is a single or triple bond.

[Karina Grover 1A]

When determining the number of hybrid orbitals, you must take into account bonding pairs and lone pairs. For example, NH3 would have sp3 hybridization due to its 3 bonding pairs and 1 lone pair.

[America Ramirez 3H]

you do count the lone pairs because it is still a region of electron density, and remember that a double bond is still only one region to count even though there are two bonds.