Chemistry 401

 

Hybridization

Orbitals used by pairs of electrons in VB theory need to be created from atomic orbitals: overlap between orbitals can give the required increase in electron density between nuclei. A problem arises, however, because atomic orbitals do not always give the right geometries.

Hybridization: overlap of two or more atomic orbitals on the same atomic center.

This requires orbitals to be about the same energy (or same size).

geometryhybrid

 

linearsp, sd

 

trigonalsp², sd²

 

tetrahedralsp³, sd³

 

square planardsp²

 

 

trigonal bipyramiddsp³

 

 

octahedrald²sp³