Question

Describe the geometry and hybridization of carbon in chloroform, \(\mathrm{CHCl}_{3}\).

Short answer

The carbon in \(\mathrm{CHCl}_3\) is \(\mathrm{sp}^3\) hybridized with a tetrahedral geometry.

Step-by-step solution

Identify Central Atom

In chloroform, or \( \mathrm{CHCl}_3 \), the central atom around which the molecular geometry is determined is carbon (C). This is because carbon typically forms the most bonds in a molecule, being able to form up to four covalent bonds due to its four valence electrons.

Count the Bonds

The carbon in \( \mathrm{CHCl}_3 \) makes four covalent bonds; one with hydrogen (H) and three with chlorine (Cl) atoms. This is a saturated, single-bond environment, meaning all bonds are single σ (sigma) bonds.

Determine Hybridization

Since carbon is making four sigma bonds and there are no lone pairs on the carbon atom, hybridization is determined by counting the number of "things" (bonds and lone pairs) around the central carbon. In this case, carbon forms four bonds, thus its hybridization is \( \mathrm{sp}^3 \). The \( \mathrm{sp}^3 \) hybridization involves one s orbital and three p orbitals, making four hybrid orbitals that form sigma bonds.

Define the Geometry

The four \( \mathrm{sp}^3 \) hybridized orbitals spread out to minimize repulsion, adopting a tetrahedral shape. The ideal bond angle in a tetrahedral geometry is \( 109.5^\circ \), where each bond points to a corner of an imaginary tetrahedron.

Key concepts

Hybridization

Hybridization is a concept that explains the mixing of atomic orbitals to form new hybrid orbitals. These hybrid orbitals are better suited for describing the bond formation and geometry of molecules. In the case of chloroform,
the central carbon atom undergoes hybridization because it forms covalent bonds with other atoms.
The carbon atom in \[\mathrm{CHCl}_{3}\] undergoes what is known as \(\mathrm{sp}^3\) hybridization. This occurs because the carbon atom forms four sigma bonds: one bond with a hydrogen atom and three bonds with chlorine atoms.

• The sigma bonds are a result of \(\mathrm{sp}^3\) hybrid orbitals, which are created from the mixing of one s orbital and three p orbitals.
• The carbon atom's original orbitals rearrange to form four equivalent hybrid orbitals, which then form strong covalent bonds with the surrounding atoms.
• This hybridization allows the carbon atom to achieve a stable electron configuration, fulfilling its valence requirements.

Covalent Bonds

Covalent bonds are a type of chemical bond where atoms share pairs of electrons. In chloroform, \\(\mathrm{CHCl}_{3}\), the carbon atom forms covalent bonds with one hydrogen and three chlorine atoms.
These bonds result from the sharing of electron pairs between the atoms. Covalent bonding is critical in molecular chemistry because:

• It allows atoms to achieve a full outer electron shell, leading to greater stability.
• The shared electrons in covalent bonds occupy the space between the nuclei of the bonding atoms, creating a strong bond.
• Each covalent bond (especially single sigma bonds) involves the merging of orbitals from the bonding atoms to create a single, filled molecular orbital.

In \(\mathrm{CHCl}_{3}\), these covalent bonds give the molecule
a well-defined structure and help determine its geometry.

Tetrahedral Shape

The tetrahedral shape is one of the most common molecular geometries. It occurs when there are four groups attached to a central atom, all arranged to minimize repulsion. In chloroform (\(\mathrm{CHCl}_{3}\)), the central carbon atom adopts a tetrahedral shape due to its
\(\mathrm{sp}^3\) hybridization, leading to four sigma bonds.

• The molecules achieve maximum separation, minimizing repulsion between the electron pairs.
• The ideal bond angles in a tetrahedral geometry are \(109.5^\circ\), forming an evenly spaced three-dimensional geometry.
• The tetrahedral structure is fundamental in determining many physical and chemical properties of a molecule.

The orientation of these bonds in a tetrahedral shape allows even distribution and balance of the electron clouds around the central atom, lending stability and symmetry to the molecule.