What is the hybridization of the carbon atom in CO2?
Practice Questions
Q1
What is the hybridization of the carbon atom in CO2?
sp
sp2
sp3
dsp3
Questions & Step-by-Step Solutions
What is the hybridization of the carbon atom in CO2?
Correct Answer: sp
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.
