Definition of hybridization

[Irene Kang 3F]

When he explains that hybridization is mixing the orbitals together, what does that necessarily mean? How can you mix orbitals and how are we supposed to count the hybridization of molecules?

[Andrew Nguyen 1E]

Hi,

Hybridization is considered the mixing of atomic orbitals such that all bonds are equivalent. For instance, for CH4, there are 4 C-H bonds, all the same length/strength. This is despite C having a filled 2s orbital and 2 half-filled 2p orbitals. Hybridization dictates that the 2s and 2p orbitals will merge to form 4 sp3 orbitals, each half-filled. The electron from H forms a bond with C when the H atomic orbital overlaps with the sp3 C hybrid orbital. This way, all C-H bonds are the same as opposed to 2s/2p orbitals making bonds with the 1s.

Also, you can determine hybridization based on the VSEPR electronic structure of the molecule. So CH4, which is tetrahedral with 4 regions of electron density, is sp3 (4 combined orbitals).

Hope this helps!

[Raizel Ferrer 1H]

He references that hybridization is mixing the orbitals together, so all bonds in each orbital is filled. We would count the hybridization of molecules by finding the regions of electron density which equals to the number of hybrid orbitals. For example in CH4, it has 4 regions because there are 4 atoms bound to it thus creating 4 hybrid orbitals. Therefore, CH4 hybridization is sp3.

[505784197]

Another thing to note is that we always end with the same number of orbitals from where we started. Also in hybridization, the energy difference between two shells is smaller than when it is not hybridized.

[Ellen Brock 2I]

The hybridization will be associated with the number of electron densities in that lewis structure. I think that this is the easiest way to interpret and practice it. In Lavelle's review session he did an example of a tetrahedral structure and gave it the hybridization of sp3. This makes sense because it had four regions of electron density.

[Harbaksh Kaur 3E]

You would find hybridization by counting the number of bonds from a central atom (regions).

[205484435]

Hybridization occurs during bonding, so when there is bonding the atomic orbitals hybridize. You can determine which hybridization scheme to use by counting the regions of electron density which should match the number of hybrid orbitals you need.