Illustrated Examples of sp Hybridization

By Team Aakash Byju's | 24th January 2023

The electronic configuration of 'Be' in the ground state is 1s   2s  . Since there are no unpaired electrons, it is excited by promoting one of its 2s electrons into an empty 2p orbital.

Example 1: Beryllium Chloride (BeCl  )

2

Ground state :

Excited state:

1s

2s

2p

2

2

2

2

In the excited state, the electronic configuration of Be is 1s  2s   2p  .

Excited state:

1s

2s

2p

2

1

1

2

1

1

The excited beryllium atom undergoes 'sp' hybridization by combining two 2s and one 2p orbital. As a result, two half-filled 'sp' hybrid orbitals are formed and aligned linearly.

2s

2p

energy

sp hybridisation

Two σ bonds are formed by half-filled sp-orbitals with two 'Cl' atoms. BeCl   forms a linear shape with a bond angle of 180.

Be

2

o

Cl

Cl

The electronic configuration of 'C' is 1s  2s  2p   2p   . Since there are only two unpaired electrons, carbon promotes one of its 2s electrons into the empty 2p  orbital in the excited state.

Example 2: Acetylene (C  H  )

2

2

2

2

1

x

y

1

z

H

H

C

C

In the excited state, the electronic configuration of C is  1s   2s  2p   2p   2p   .

Excited state:

2s

2p

x

2p

y

2p

z

1

1

1

1

1s

2

2

1

1

x

1

y

z

1

c:

1s

2s

2p

x

2p

y

2p

z

In the excited state, each carbon atom undergoes 'sp' hybridization, which results in two half-filled 'sp' orbitals that are aligned linearly.

sp Hybridised state:

c=

1s

2s

2p

x

2p

y

2p

z

sp Hybrid orbital

un Hybrid orbital

Each carbon forms a σ        bond with the hydrogen atom. Acetylene forms a linear shape with a bond angle of 180.

o

H

H

C

C

sp-s