The hybridisation of the carbon atom in carbon dioxide is

  • A. sp3
  • B. sp2
  • C. sp
  • D. unhybridised

Explanation

The carbon has only two regions of electron density, since each double bond counts as one region, so two sp hybrid orbitals point in opposite directions and the molecule is linear. The two remaining unhybridised p orbitals form the pi bonds. Counting regions rather than bonds is what makes this quick.

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