Inside look

Inside look

Inside look

Inside look

What Are the Steps to Determine Hybridization?

By Team Aakash BYJU'S | 21st January 2023

Depending on the type and number of orbitals involved, there are different types of hybridization.

– sp  hybridization - If one s and     three p orbitals are involved. – sp  hybridization - If one s and     two p orbitals are involved. – sp hybridization - If one s and one     p orbitals are involved.

3

2

The first step is to write the Lewis structure and identify the atom whose hybridization needs to be determined.

Lewis Structure

Calculate the number of σ-bonds formed by the atom in a compound and count the number of atoms related to it.

Bond Formation

In the next step, we have to calculate the number of lone pairs using the formula Number of lone pairs =

v-b-c

2

Lone Pairs

104 31'

0

:

:

O

H

H

Where,  v = no. of valence electrons in the atom in the free state. b = no. of bonds formed by atoms. c = charge on the atom.

Lone Pairs

104 31'

0

:

:

O

H

H

Now, we need to calculate the steric number by using the formula, Steric number = no. of σ-bonds + no. of lone pairs.

Lone Pair Electron

O

_

_

:

:

C

:

:

O

_

_

180

0

Finally, based on the steric number analyse the type of hybridization of the atom.

H

C

H

H

H

109 29'

0

N

:

H

H

H

107

0

:

:

O

H

H

104.5

0

When the count is 4, the atom undergoes sp3 hybridization,  if the count is 3, the hybridization of the atom is sp2 and when the count is 2, it is sp hybridization.