Question

How is the mumber of hybrid orbitals related to the number of standard atomic orbitals that are hybridized?

Short answer

The number of hybrid orbitals formed is equal to the number of atomic orbitals that are hybridized.

Step-by-step solution

Understanding Hybrid Orbitals

Hybridization is the concept of mixing atomic orbitals into new hybrid orbitals, suitable for the pairing of electrons to form chemical bonds in molecular orbitals. The number of hybrid orbitals created is equal to the number of atomic orbitals that are mixed together.

Identify Number of Atomic Orbitals Involved in Hybridization

To determine the number of hybrid orbitals, identify which and how many atomic orbitals are involved in the hybridization process. This could be s, p, d or f orbitals.

Relating Hybrid Orbitals to Atomic Orbitals

The key relationship is that the number of hybrid orbitals formed is always equal to the number of atomic orbitals that were mixed. For example, sp3 hybridization involves the mixing of one s orbital and three p orbitals, resulting in four sp3 hybrid orbitals.

Key concepts

Hybridization in Chemistry

Understanding hybridization in chemistry is crucial for grasping how atoms combine to form molecules with specific shapes and properties. At its core, hybridization is a theoretical model that explains the formation of equivalent orbitals capable of making bonds with other atoms. When atomic orbitals mix, they create new orbitals called hybrid orbitals, which are identical in energy.

For example, in a carbon atom, the 2s and three 2p orbitals mix to form four equivalent sp3 hybrid orbitals. This process allows carbon to form four covalent bonds with other atoms, resulting in a tetrahedral geometry, as seen in methane (CH4). The concept of hybridization helps explain molecule geometry, which cannot be understood solely by looking at unhybridized atomic orbitals.

Exercise Insight

In addressing the exercise, it's helpful to visualize the atomic orbitals as puzzle pieces that come together to create a new picture, the hybrid orbitals. When students grasp that these puzzle pieces (atomic orbitals) interact in a one-to-one fashion to create a new set (hybrid orbitals), the concept becomes clearer.

Molecular Orbitals

Molecular orbitals are resultant from the combination of atomic orbitals when two atoms approach each other closely in a bond formation process. These orbitals can be either bonding or antibonding. Bonding orbitals are lower in energy, promoting stability and electron sharing between atoms, while antibonding orbitals are higher in energy and can lead to the repulsion of electrons.

The concept of molecular orbitals extends upon basic atomic orbital theory by showing how electrons are delocalized over an entire molecule, rather than being confined to a single atom. This delocalization of electrons is what gives rise to many of the physical and chemical properties of molecules.

Exercise Improvement Advice

For a more profound understanding, students should practice sketching molecular orbital diagrams for simple molecules, considering both the atomic orbitals of the constituent atoms and the resulting molecular orbitals. This visualization helps in comprehending that the number of orbitals is conserved during the mixing process - the number of molecular orbitals equals the number of atomic orbitals combined.

Atomic Orbitals Mixing

Atomic orbitals mixing is a key aspect of quantum chemistry where individual atomic orbitals (AOs) combine to form new molecular orbitals (MOs). The mixing of orbitals takes into account their shape, energy, and phase, leading to constructive or destructive interference patterns based on the wave nature of electrons.

This interaction can result in different types of molecular orbitals, with 'bonding' molecular orbitals being the most energetically favorable for electron pairing and bond formation. The types of atomic orbitals that can mix include the s, p, d, and f orbitals, with 's' orbitals being spherical, 'p' orbitals having a dumbbell shape, and 'd' and 'f' orbitals having more complex geometries.

Connecting Concepts

To tie this concept back to the exercise, it is important to highlight that the type and number of atomic orbitals that mix dictate the shape and number of resulting hybrid orbitals. Emphasizing examples such as the formation of sp, sp2, or sp3 hybrid orbitals depending on the number and types of atomic orbitals involved will enhance students' comprehension of how atomic orbitals determine the geometry and bonding properties of molecules.