What is the hybridization of the carbon atom in CO2?
Practice Questions
1 question
Q1
What is the hybridization of the carbon atom in CO2?
sp
sp2
sp3
dsp3
In CO2, the carbon atom forms two double bonds with oxygen atoms, indicating sp hybridization.
Questions & Step-by-step Solutions
1 item
Q
Q: What is the hybridization of the carbon atom in CO2?
Solution: In CO2, the carbon atom forms two double bonds with oxygen atoms, indicating sp hybridization.
Steps: 6
Step 1: Identify the molecule CO2, which consists of one carbon atom and two oxygen atoms.
Step 2: Determine how many bonds the carbon atom forms. In CO2, carbon forms two double bonds, one with each oxygen atom.
Step 3: Recognize that each double bond consists of one sigma bond and one pi bond.
Step 4: Count the number of regions of electron density around the carbon atom. In this case, there are two regions (the two double bonds).
Step 5: Use the VSEPR theory to determine the hybridization based on the number of regions of electron density. Two regions correspond to sp hybridization.
Step 6: Conclude that the hybridization of the carbon atom in CO2 is sp.
