What is the hybridization of carbon atoms in benzene?
Practice Questions
Q1
What is the hybridization of carbon atoms in benzene?
sp
sp2
sp3
dsp2
Questions & Step-by-Step Solutions
What is the hybridization of carbon atoms in benzene?
Step 1: Understand that benzene is a chemical compound made up of six carbon atoms and six hydrogen atoms.
Step 2: Each carbon atom in benzene is bonded to two other carbon atoms and one hydrogen atom.
Step 3: Recognize that carbon has four valence electrons and can form four bonds.
Step 4: In benzene, each carbon atom uses three of its four valence electrons to form bonds with two neighboring carbon atoms and one hydrogen atom.
Step 5: The remaining valence electron on each carbon atom is involved in a delocalized pi bond with the other carbon atoms, creating a ring structure.
Step 6: To form these bonds, the carbon atoms undergo hybridization, which is the mixing of atomic orbitals.
Step 7: In benzene, the carbon atoms hybridize to form three sp2 hybrid orbitals.
Step 8: The sp2 hybridization results in a planar structure with bond angles of 120 degrees between the carbon-carbon bonds.