Step 1: Understand what hybridization means. Hybridization is the mixing of atomic orbitals to form new hybrid orbitals.
Step 2: Identify the types of hybridization. The common types are sp, sp2, and sp3.
Step 3: Know that sp hybridization occurs when there are two regions of electron density around a central atom.
Step 4: Look at the molecule C2H2 (ethyne). It has two carbon atoms and each carbon is bonded to one hydrogen atom and has a triple bond with the other carbon.
Step 5: Count the regions of electron density around each carbon atom. Each carbon has one triple bond (which counts as one region) and one single bond to hydrogen (which counts as another region). So, there are two regions of electron density.
Step 6: Since there are two regions of electron density, the hybridization of each carbon atom is sp.
