What is the hybridization of the carbon atom in ethyne (C2H2)?
Practice Questions
Q1
What is the hybridization of the carbon atom in ethyne (C2H2)?
sp
sp2
sp3
dsp3
Questions & Step-by-Step Solutions
What is the hybridization of the carbon atom in ethyne (C2H2)?
Step 1: Identify the molecular formula of ethyne, which is C2H2.
Step 2: Understand that each carbon atom in ethyne is bonded to one hydrogen atom and is also involved in a triple bond with the other carbon atom.
Step 3: Recognize that a triple bond consists of one sigma bond and two pi bonds.
Step 4: Determine the number of regions of electron density around each carbon atom. In ethyne, each carbon has two regions: one from the hydrogen bond and one from the triple bond.
Step 5: Use the VSEPR theory to find the hybridization based on the number of regions of electron density. Two regions correspond to sp hybridization.
Step 6: Conclude that the carbon atoms in ethyne are sp hybridized due to the presence of the triple bond.
