Determine the hybridization of the central atom in O3.

Determine the hybridization of the central atom in O3.

Step 1: Identify the central atom in ozone (O3). The central atom is the one that is bonded to the other atoms. In O3, the central atom is one of the oxygen atoms.
Step 2: Count the number of bonds the central atom forms. The central oxygen atom in O3 forms one double bond with another oxygen atom and one single bond with the third oxygen atom.
Step 3: Determine the number of lone pairs on the central atom. The central oxygen atom has one lone pair of electrons.
Step 4: Use the number of bonds and lone pairs to find the hybridization. The central atom has 2 bonds and 1 lone pair, which totals 3 regions of electron density.
Step 5: Identify the hybridization based on the number of regions of electron density. 3 regions correspond to sp2 hybridization.

Hybridization – The concept of hybridization involves the mixing of atomic orbitals to form new hybrid orbitals suitable for the pairing of electrons to form chemical bonds.
Resonance Structures – Resonance structures are different ways of drawing the same molecule that show the delocalization of electrons.
Molecular Geometry – The arrangement of atoms in a molecule, which can be influenced by hybridization and lone pairs.