What type of hybridization occurs in the carbon atoms of alkynes?
Practice Questions
Q1
What type of hybridization occurs in the carbon atoms of alkynes?
sp
sp2
sp3
s
Questions & Step-by-Step Solutions
What type of hybridization occurs in the carbon atoms of alkynes?
Step 1: Understand what hybridization means. Hybridization is the mixing of atomic orbitals to form new hybrid orbitals.
Step 2: Identify the type of bonds in alkynes. Alkynes have at least one triple bond between carbon atoms.
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 a triple bond. There are two regions (one for the sigma bond and two for the pi bonds).
Step 5: Conclude that to accommodate these two regions of electron density, the carbon atoms must use sp hybridization.
Step 6: Remember that sp hybridization involves the mixing of one s orbital and one p orbital, resulting in two sp hybrid orbitals.
