AP Chemistry questions on Hybridization of Carbon

📚 Quick Study Guide

• ⚛️ Carbon has 4 valence electrons, allowing it to form 4 covalent bonds.
• 🤝 Hybridization is the mixing of atomic orbitals to form new hybrid orbitals suitable for bonding.
• 📈 The number of hybrid orbitals formed equals the number of atomic orbitals mixed.
• 📐 $sp^3$ hybridization: Carbon forms 4 sigma ($\sigma$) bonds. Tetrahedral geometry with bond angles of $\approx 109.5^\circ$. Example: Methane ($CH_4$).
• 📊 $sp^2$ hybridization: Carbon forms 3 sigma ($\sigma$) bonds and 1 pi ($\pi$) bond. Trigonal planar geometry with bond angles of $\approx 120^\circ$. Example: Ethene ($C_2H_4$).
• 🧪 $sp$ hybridization: Carbon forms 2 sigma ($\sigma$) bonds and 2 pi ($\pi$) bonds. Linear geometry with bond angles of $180^\circ$. Example: Ethyne ($C_2H_2$).
• ✏️ To determine hybridization, count the number of sigma bonds and lone pairs around the carbon atom.

🧪 Practice Quiz

1. Which of the following molecules contains a carbon atom with $sp^3$ hybridization?
   1. $CO_2$
   2. $C_2H_2$
   3. $CH_4$
   4. $C_2H_4$
2. What is the hybridization of carbon in carbon dioxide ($CO_2$)?
   1. $sp$
   2. $sp^2$
   3. $sp^3$
   4. $dsp^2$
3. In which molecule does carbon form only sigma ($\sigma$) bonds?
   1. Ethene ($C_2H_4$)
   2. Ethyne ($C_2H_2$)
   3. Benzene ($C_6H_6$)
   4. Methane ($CH_4$)
4. What is the geometry around a carbon atom that is $sp^2$ hybridized?
   1. Tetrahedral
   2. Linear
   3. Trigonal Planar
   4. Bent
5. How many pi ($\pi$) bonds are present in ethyne ($C_2H_2$)?
   1. 1
   2. 2
   3. 3
   4. 0
6. Which of the following statements about hybridization is correct?
   1. $sp$ hybridization results in a tetrahedral geometry.
   2. $sp^2$ hybridization involves the mixing of one s and three p orbitals.
   3. $sp^3$ hybridization leads to three sigma bonds and one pi bond.
   4. The number of hybrid orbitals equals the number of atomic orbitals mixed.
7. What is the approximate bond angle around a carbon atom with $sp$ hybridization?
   1. $109.5^\circ$
   2. $120^\circ$
   3. $180^\circ$
   4. $90^\circ$