Question

What is the hybridization of each carbon atom in acetonitrile?

Short answer

Hybridization of carbon in acetonitrile

Step-by-step solution

Hybridization of carbon atoms

A carbon atom with four atoms bound to it is sp³, a carbon atom with three atoms bound to it is sp², and a carbon atom with two atoms bound to it is sp .

Acetonitrile molecule

In the acetonitrile molecule represented below we can see that the carbon with three hydrogens bound to it has four atoms so it isand the carbon bound to nitrogen has bonded to two atoms so it is sp.