sp^2

[Chelsea Greene 1L]

For sp^2 hybridization, does that always mean theres 3 bonds being formed?

[Natalie Vu 1I]

Hi!

Sp^2 means 3 regions of electron density, so it can be bonds or lone pairs.

[Kayley Steele 3D]

No, not necessarily three bonds but just three areas of electron density. This the because the number of regions of electron density equals the number of hybridized orbitals. SP^2 has 3 hybridized orbitals and therefore the molecule would have 3 areas of electron density. The atom could have two bonds and one electron pair and would still be sp^2

[Leah Wildmann 1F]

It means there are 3 regions of electron density, so bonded atoms and lone pairs. Hybrid orbitals need to have the same number of suborbitals as regions of electron density.

[Tristan Friet 3G]

Sp2 means three areas of electron density.

[Zoe Apple 1F]

Not always, there can also be a lone pair.

[Minh Nguyen 3H]

sp^2 simply refers to possible areas of electron density, meaning that it can either be bonds or lone pairs.

[305805394]

Hi,

I think you are definitely correct that a sp2 hybridized orbital is correlated to three.

But in this scenario, sp2 hybridized orbitals should indeed own only three electron density surrounding the central atom being hybridized.

The "electron density" is about to refers the same term as mentioned in VSEPR models; the three electron density could be bonding pairs(single bonds, double bonds, or triple bonds) and long pairs.

Hope this could address your concerns.

[Hope Galarneau 1A]

hybridization usually refers the the regions of electron density, so it does not have to be about the number of bonds. Thus, there could be 3 bonds, 1 bond and 2 lone pairs, or 2 bonds and 1 lone pair, and each would have the sp2 hybridization. Hope this helps!

[Simren Nagra 1D]

because hybridization refers to electron density regions SP2 hybridization contain three bonds or lone pairs can also add to this sum.

[Josh Richter 2C]

Ah Chelsea, I can see how that can be confusing.Yes, sp2 has to do with 3 regions of electron density according to the VSEPR model. There are three hybridized orbitals to correspond to these 3 regions.

[Chris Van 2J]

SP2 indicates that there are 3 regions of electron density.

[elletruchan2I]

Hi Chelsea!
sp^2 means that there are three regions of electron density, which can come in the form of a lone pair or a single/double/triple bond.

[Albert 1I]

SP2 hybridizations means there are three regions of electron density whether it is a bond being formed or a lone electron pair.

[305597516]

Yes, sp^2 refers to the number of regions of electron density. Therefore, this doesn't necessarily mean bonds (it can be lone pairs). It is possible with bonds though, but it's probably much safer to look at regions of electron density instead.

[Nicola Higgins 14B]

Not necessarily, it just means that there are 3 regions of electron density. So you could have: (3 bonds, 0 LP), (2 bonds, 1 LP), (1 bond, 2 LP)

[cnyland]

3 regions of electron density, lone pairs too

[Polo Morales 3C]

Not necessarily. It simply means that there are 3 regions of electron density, which could be bonds or lone pairs. Hope this helps!

[erud]

It indicates that there are three regions of electron density, so not necessarily only 3 bonds. A double bound is one region, as are triple and single bonds.

[Rishab_Haldar_3B]

Sp^2 means that there are 3 regions of electron density.

[Caitlin_Chheda_1K]

Hi!
For a sp2 hybridization, there are 3 regions of electron density. This means that there could be 3 bonds but there could also be 2 bonds and a lone pair, and the lone pair is counted as an electron density.
I hope that this helps!