What is sp hybridization?

There are different types of chemical process that do take place. This is important that we should be able to understand the way the process is being carried out so that we can understand the redistribution of energy as well.

WHAT IS HYBRIDIZATION?

The process of hybridization is defined as the redistribution of the energy of orbitals of individual atoms to give orbitals of equivalent energy. This usually happens when two atomic orbitals combine to form hybrid orbital in a given set of molecules. In this process the new set of orbital that is being formed are known as the hybrid orbitals. This process is based on the concept of mixing two atomic orbitals with the same energy levels in order to give a degenerated new type of orbitals. This process of intermixing is based on the mechanism of quantum mechanics. In this we can notice that the atomic orbitals of the same energy level can only take part in hybridization. This process also allows the participation of both full filled and half-filled orbitals to take part as well. This is because of the fact that both of them are capable of providing the same kind of energy in the reaction process.

The most important thing that is noticed during the process of hybridization is that in this, the atomic orbitals of similar energy are mixed together. This is like the mixing of two orbitals the  two ‘s’ orbitals or two ‘p’ orbital’s or mixing of an ‘s’ orbital with a ‘p’ orbital or ‘s’ orbital with a ‘d’ orbital. This in turn will lead to the mixed reaction.

KEY FEATURES OF HYBRIDIZATION

There are certain key features that are being exhibited by the orbitals that need to be explained in the process of hybridization. We will try to understand the key features that can impact the formation and characteristic of these arrangements

• The value of atomic orbitals will always be equal with the energies that are required to undergo the hybridization.
• The number of hybrid orbitals formed during the process of hybridization will be equal to the number of atomic orbitals mixing.
• This is not always compulsory that all the half-filled orbitals must participate in hybridization. In this process the completely filled orbitals that exhibit slightly different energies can also participate.
• Hybridization can happen only the period of bond formation and not in when the chemicals are an isolated gaseous form.
• We can always predict the shape of the molecule id we know the type hybridization that molecule will undergo.
• When we have a bigger lobe of the hybrid orbital. It will be denoted by a positive sign. While the smaller lobe will always be denoted by a negative sign.

TYPES OF HYBRIDIZATION

There are different types of hybridization that can be found in accordance with the mixing process of the orbitals. This will all depend on the formation of the orbitals and the energy that is put forward.  The hybridization can be classified as sp3, sp2, spa, sp3d, sp3d2, sp3d3. Here we will try and understand the very basic type as to how the process is carried out at the initial stages

SP HYBRIDIZATION

This is said to be the basic type of hybridization that takes place in a chemical process. This is a kind of hybridization that can be observed when one s and one p orbital are in the same main shell of an atom. They get mixed in order to form two new equivalent orbitals. In this new mixture, the new orbitals formed are known as the sp hybridized orbitals. This type of arrangement often tend to form linear molecules with an angle of 180°

• In this type hybridization there is the mixing of one‘s’ orbital and one ‘p’ orbital. In this case both the orbitals have equal energy to give a new hybrid orbital called the sp hybridized orbital.
• Sp hybridization is known as the diagonal hybridization as the structure that is formed is a linear structure.
• In each of the sp hybridized orbital there is the presence of equal amount of s and p character. This will mean that the new orbital that is to be formed willhave 50% of s-orbital and 50% of p-orbital character.

Examples of sp Hybridization:

• The sp hybridization structures are the usual ones that are to be found in all compounds of beryllium like BeF₂, BeH_2, and BeCl2_.
• All carbon-containing compounds that carry a triple Bond in the composition of the structure will always have sp hybridization like C₂H₂.

Learn more concepts, refer: chemical bonding and molecular structure from class 11 chemistry – find all the questions & answers