Hybridization As per quantum mechanical explanation of covalent bond formation, an atom can form as many covalent bonds as the

number of its orbitals, each possessing one electron. This does not explain the bivalency of Be (1s2 2s2), trivalency of boron (1s2 2s2 2p1) and tetravalency of carbon (1s2 2s2 2px1 2py1). To explain this as well as the geometry of the molecules formed by these atoms, the process of hybridization has been developed. In this process, two or more orbitals of the same atom combine to give the same number of equivalent orbitals, known as hybrid orbitals. The latter are completely identical in size, shape, orientation and energy. During the hybridization, no gain or loss of energy takes place. Each of the hybrid orbitals contains one electron and can overlap with the pure or hybrid orbital of the other atom to form a covalent bond. Hybridization : The Formation of sp3 Orbitals One s and three p orbitals join up and form three new sp3 hybrid orbitals.

Then four identical shape hybrided orbital are forms

The geometry of the molecule will be Tetrahedral and bond angle will be 109.5.

Lets start with the simplest case and consider methane, CH 4. Carbon has four electrons in its valence shell and can form four bonds to hydrogen. In Lewis structures:

What are the four CH bonds in methane like ? Because carbon uses two kinds of orbitals (2s and 2p) for bonding purposes, we might expect methane to have two kinds of CH bonds. In fact, though, all four CH bonds in methane are identical. How can we explain this ? The answer was provided by Linus Pauling, who showed that an s orbital and three p orbitals can combine, or hybridize, to form four equivalent atomic orbitals that are spatially oriented toward the four corners of a tetrahedron. Shown in fig. these tetrahedral orbitals are called sp3 hybrids because they arise from a combination of one s orbital with three p orbitals. The concept of hybridization explains how carbon forms four equivalent tetrahedral bonds but doesnt answer the question of why it does so. Viewing an sp 3 hybrid orbital from the side suggests the answer. When an s orbital hybridizes with three p orbitals, the resultant hybrid orbitals are unsymmetrical about the nucleus. One of the two lobes of an sp3 orbital is much larger than the other and can therefore overlap better with another orbital when it forms a bond. As a result, sp3 hybrid orbitals form stronger bonds than do unhybridized s or p orbitals. The Structure of Methane When the four identical orbitals of an sp3-hybridized carbon atom overlap with four hydrogen atoms, four identical CH bonds are formed, and methane, CH4, results. Each CH bond of methane has a strength of 104 kcal/mol (435 kJ / mol) and a length of 1.10 . Because the four bonds have a specific geometry, we can also define a property called a bond angle. The angle formed by each HCH is 109.5, the so called tetrahedral angle. Methane thus has the structure shown in fig.

Ex.1. By which type of overlaping the following indicated bonds are forms

Sol. 1. 2. 3.

(sp2s) bond (sp2sp) bond (pypy) -bond or (pzpz) -bond