What orbital hybridisation?

Orbital hybridisation is a model used to explain covalent bonding in molecules. It involves the merging of orbitals that are on the same energy level to form new hybrid orbitals.

Orbital hybridisation most commonly occurs with the merging of the s and p orbitals. Though in the same energy level the s orbitals have a lower energy than the p orbitals, the hybrid orbitals have an energy between the s and p orbitals. An atom can be sp, sp2 or sp3 hybridised depending if the s orbital was merged with one, two or three orbitals respectively. Thus the exponent on the p refers to the number of p orbitals that merged with the s orbital. These new hybrid orbitals can bond with other orbitals just like any other orbitals.

Answered by Lukas R. Chemistry tutor

2384 Views

See similar Chemistry IB tutors

Related Chemistry IB answers

All answers ▸

Sodium and sodium iodide can both conduct electricity when molten, but only sodium can conduct electricity when solid. Explain this difference in conductivity in terms of the structures of sodium and sodium iodide.


Explain the size of atomic radii observed in the periodic table


Explain why average bond enthalpies can be used for cyclohexane but not for benzene


How many molecules of water are present in 5g sample?


We're here to help

contact us iconContact usWhatsapp logoMessage us on Whatsapptelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo

© MyTutorWeb Ltd 2013–2025

Terms & Conditions|Privacy Policy
Cookie Preferences