What is the hybridization of the carbon atom in ethylene (C2H4)?

What is the hybridization of the carbon atom in ethylene (C2H4)?

Correct Answer: sp2

Step 1: Identify the structure of ethylene (C2H4). It consists of two carbon atoms and four hydrogen atoms.
Step 2: Determine the number of bonds each carbon atom forms. In ethylene, each carbon forms two single bonds with hydrogen and one double bond with the other carbon.
Step 3: Count the regions of electron density around each carbon atom. Each carbon has three regions of electron density (two from the C-H bonds and one from the C=C double bond).
Step 4: Identify the hybridization based on the number of regions of electron density. Three regions correspond to sp2 hybridization.
Step 5: Conclude that each carbon atom in ethylene is sp2 hybridized.

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