Hybridisation

Unit 2.1

Orbitals

In Unit 1 we looked at orbitals and how

electrons occupy s, p and d orbitals in
lone atoms
When these electrons form chemical
bonds electrons are promoted and the
atom enters an excited state
The orbitals in which they exist merge
together and the electrons are rearranged
into new hybrid orbitals
This process is known as hybridisation

Breaking it down

Lets return to a Key

Breaking bonds

Making bonds

ENDOTHERMIC
EXOTHERMIC

Chemical bonds

The understanding of
Concept
how chemical bonds
are made and broken
by the movement of
electrons allows us to
predict patterns of
reactivity.

If an atom can form a bond, it can release

energy and become more stable
A molecule of CH4 is more stable than one
C atom and four H atoms

Electron promotion

Carbon has the electronic configuration 1s22s22p2

The carbon invests some energy and promotes a
2s electron
The energy released when the bonds form more
than compensates for this investment

sp3 orbitals

4 orbitals hybridise into 4 different orbitals

The orbitals now hybridised to form four

s p p p sp3 sp3 sp3 sp3

sp3

hybrid orbitals

ess pee three

These four identical orbitals now arrange themselves in

3Dimensional space to minimise repulsion between the
electron pairs
This is where our tetrahedral shape comes from with 109.5o
bond angle

sp2 orbitals

s p p sp2 sp2 sp2

3 orbitals hybridise into 3 different orbitals

Boron has the electronic configuration 1s22s22p1

The orbitals now hybridised to form three sp2 hybrid orbitals.

One unfilled p-orbital remains.
These three identical orbitals now arrange themselves in
3Dimensional space to minimise repulsion between the electron
pairs
This is where our trigonal planar shape comes from with 120o
bond angle

sp orbitals

s p sp sp

2 orbitals hybridise into 2 different orbitals

Beryllium has the electronic configuration 1s22s2(2p0)

The orbitals now hybridised to form two sp hybrid orbitals. Two

unfilled p-orbital remain.
These two identical orbitals now arrange themselves in
3Dimensional space to minimise repulsion between the electron
pairs
This is where our linear shape comes from with 180o bond angle

Hybridisation

Sometimes
the
unhybridised
orbitals
contain
electrons as
well
Here all the
examples are

s and p orbitals
combine to form sp,
sp2 and sp3 orbitals

Animation

In the following YouTube clip the hybridisation

process is explained and animated
Molecular Shape and Orbital Hybridizatio
n

Questions

Consider water, H2O.

Does hybridisation occur here?

If so, is it sp, sp2 or sp3 hybridisation?

What is the hybridisation

sp sp2 sp3

of atom A in a general molecule

with the formula AB3

1.

(no lone pairs on A)

2.

of the carbon in the HCO3- ion

3.

in a molecule of methane?

In pairs you have 5 minutes

to
write down some summary
notes/words about
hybridisation.
Label yourselves A and B
A should explain the idea of
hybridisation followed by B
who must expand on any

Orbital overlap

hybrid
orbital
overlaps
with
another
hybrid
orbital

hybrid
orbital
overlaps
with an sorbital

p-orbital
overlaps
with
another
p-orbital
p-p

s-orbital
overlaps
with a porbital

sp-s

s-orbital
overlaps
with
another
s-orbital

sp-sp

s-p

A bond is created when two orbitals overlap

We categorise bonds into two types
SIGMA BONDS

s-s

END to
END

SPECIAL CASE: p-orbitals

As well as bonds porbitals can

form -bonds

pi bonds

SPECIAL CASE: p-orbitals

Two orbitals which

overlap end to end
create a -bond

Two orbitals which

overlap side by side
create a -bond

Ethene

In ethene the carbon atoms form three sp2

orbitals
This leaves an electron occupying the remaining
unhybridised p-orbital
Each carbon forms
three -bonds

One with the other

carbon and two more
with two hydrogen
atoms

s sp2 -bond
sp2 sp2 -bond

The sp2 orbitals

from two
hybridised
carbon atoms
overlap end to
end creating a bond

The sideways
overlap of the
two p-orbitals
created ONE bond, which
exists above and
below the central
plane of the

Ethene

Sideways overlap of the

p-orbitals creates one A
region of space where
the two electrons which
create the 2nd bond exist
This is what why we have
always drawn ethene
with a double bond

-bond

-bond

animation

Ethyne, C2H2

Ethyne is a colourless gas used as a fuel. It is burnt

with oxygen in oxyacetylene torches to create very
hot cutting flames.

How many bonds does

Ethyne have and are all
the bonds
-bonds or -bonds or a
Think about the shape, match the hybridisation,
combination?
allocate the electrons, identify the types of overlap,
state the types of bond which make up the triple
bond