Question

CORRECT hybridization state of the CARBON atom

Answer 1

When carbon is bonded to four other atoms (with no lone electron pairs), the hybridization is sp³ and the arrangement is tetrahedral. A carbon atom bound to three atoms (two single bonds, one double bond) is sp² hybridized and forms a flat trigonal or triangular arrangement with 120° angles between bonds. The third possible arrangement for carbon is sp hybridization which occurs when carbon is bound to two other atoms (two double bonds or one single + one triple bond). This hybridization results in a linear arrangement with an angle of 180° between bonds.