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Hybridisation

Hybridisation of carbon in diamond

Each C atom is sp³ hybridised (hybridization by the VSEPR count): 4 sigma bonds and no lone pairs give a tetrahedral shape, bond angle 109.5°.

CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC
  • C

CDiamond

Tetrahedral

AB₄: 4 bond pairs, no lone pairs on each C

  • Hybridisationsp³
  • Bond angle109.5°
  • Polaritynon-polar

Why this shape

  1. Each C has 4 valence electrons and is bonded to four other C atoms.
  2. Steric number = four sigma bonds + no lone pairs = 4, so each C is sp³ hybridised.
  3. Four electron pairs point to the corners of a tetrahedron (tetrahedral electron geometry). With no lone pairs the atoms take the same shape: tetrahedral.
  4. Each C forms four C-C sigma bonds with sp3 orbitals, pointing to the corners of a tetrahedron. The network of these bonds runs through the whole crystal, which is why diamond is so hard.
  5. Every bond joins two C atoms, so no bond is polar.
Working

Why this hybridisation and shape

  1. Each C has 4 valence electrons and is bonded to four other C atoms.
  2. Steric number = four sigma bonds + no lone pairs = 4, so each C is sp³ hybridised.
  3. Four electron pairs point to the corners of a tetrahedron (tetrahedral electron geometry). With no lone pairs the atoms take the same shape: tetrahedral.
  4. Each C forms four C-C sigma bonds with sp3 orbitals, pointing to the corners of a tetrahedron. The network of these bonds runs through the whole crystal, which is why diamond is so hard.
  5. Every bond joins two C atoms, so no bond is polar.

Class 11, Chapter 4 Chemical Bonding and Molecular Structure.

Questions

Hybridisation of C: quick answers

What is the hybridisation of C?

Each C has 4 valence electrons and is bonded to four other C atoms. Steric number = four sigma bonds + no lone pairs = 4, so each C is sp³ hybridised.

What is the shape of C and its bond angle?

Tetrahedral, with a bond angle of 109.5 degrees. Four electron pairs point to the corners of a tetrahedron (tetrahedral electron geometry). With no lone pairs the atoms take the same shape: tetrahedral. Each C forms four C-C sigma bonds with sp3 orbitals, pointing to the corners of a tetrahedron. The network of these bonds runs through the whole crystal, which is why diamond is so hard.

Is C polar or non-polar?

Non-polar. Every bond joins two C atoms, so no bond is polar.

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