In the compound CO2 and H2O the hybridization in oxygen is respectively:

Correct answer: B. sp2 and sp3

  • A. sp2 and sp2
  • B. sp2 and sp3
  • C. sp3 and sp3
  • D. sp3 and sp2

Explanation

In the carbon dioxide molecule, oxygen hybridizes its orbitals to produce three sp2 hybrid orbitals. The Unhybridized p orbital in the oxygen atom remains unchanged and is primarily used to form a pi bond. However, out of these three sp hybrid orbitals, only one will be used to produce a bond with the carbon atom. The central atom, which is hybridized, is oxygen. In the formation of the water molecule, there are three 2p orbitals and one 2s orbital. They are combined to generate the sp3 hybrid orbitals. Furthermore, each hydrogen atom forms covalent connections with two hybrid orbitals, and two hybrid orbitals are occupied by lone pairs during the process.

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Chemical bonding explains molecular shape through VSEPR theory and distinguishes sigma bonds from pi bonds. Questions involve hybridization, bond angles, dipole moment and bond energy, including how electron-pair repulsion determines geometry and how bond polarity differs from the overall polarity of a molecule.

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