1.15
Bonding in Methane and
Orbital Hybridization
Structure of Methane
tetrahedral
bond angles = 109.5�
bond distances = 110 pm
but structure seems inconsistent with
electron configuration of carbon

Electron configuration of carbon
only two unpaired
electrons
should form s
bonds to only two
hydrogen atoms
bonds should be
at right angles to
one another

sp3 Orbital Hybridization
Promote an electron from the 2s
to the 2p orbital

sp3 Orbital Hybridization
sp3 Orbital Hybridization
Mix together (hybridize) the 2s
orbital and the three 2p orbitals

sp3 Orbital Hybridization
4 equivalent half-filled orbitals are consistent with four bonds and tetrahedral geometry

Shapes of orbitals
Nodal properties of orbitals
Shape of sp3 hybrid orbitals
take the s orbital and place it on top of the p orbital

Shape of sp3 hybrid orbitals
reinforcement of electron wave in regions where sign is the same
destructive interference in regions of opposite sign

Shape of sp3 hybrid orbitals
orbital shown is sp hybrid
analogous procedure using three s orbitals and one p orbital gives sp3 hybrid
shape of sp3 hybrid is similar

Shape of sp3 hybrid orbitals
hybrid orbital is not symmetrical
higher probability of finding  an electron on one side of the nucleus than the other
leads to stronger bonds

Slide 14
"consistent with structure of methane"
consistent with structure of methane
allows for formation of 4 bonds rather than 2
bonds involving sp3 hybrid orbitals are stronger
than those involving s-s overlap or p-p overlap

1.16
sp3 Hybridization
and Bonding in Ethane
"tetrahedral geometry at each carbon"
tetrahedral geometry at each carbon
C�H bond distance = 110 pm
C�C bond distance = 153 pm

"In-phase overlap of half..."
In-phase overlap of half-filled sp3 hybrid
orbital of one carbon with half-filled sp3
hybrid orbital of another.
Overlap is along internuclear axis to give a s bond.

"In-phase overlap of half..."
In-phase overlap of half-filled sp3 hybrid
orbital of one carbon with half-filled sp3
hybrid orbital of another.
Overlap is along internuclear axis to give a s bond.

1.17
sp2 Hybridization
and Bonding in Ethylene
Structure of Ethylene
planar
bond angles:  close to 120�
bond distances: C�H = 110 pm
C=C  = 134 pm

sp2 Orbital Hybridization
Promote an electron from the 2s
to the 2p orbital

sp2 Orbital Hybridization
sp2 Orbital Hybridization
Mix together (hybridize) the 2s
orbital and two of the three 2p orbitals

sp2 Orbital Hybridization
3 equivalent half-filled sp2 hybrid orbitals plus 1 p orbital left unhybridized

sp2 Orbital Hybridization
sp2 Orbital Hybridization
p Bonding in Ethylene
p Bonding in Ethylene
each carbon has an unhybridized 2p orbital
axis of orbital is perpendicular to the plane of the s bonds

p Bonding in Ethylene
side-by-side overlap of half-filled
p orbitals gives a p bond
double bond in ethylene has a
s component and a p component

1.18
sp Hybridization
and Bonding in Acetylene
Structure of Acetylene
linear
bond angles:  180�
bond distances: C�H = 106 pm
CC  = 120 pm

sp Orbital Hybridization
Promote an electron from the 2s
to the 2p orbital

sp Orbital Hybridization
sp Orbital Hybridization
Mix together (hybridize) the 2s
orbital and one of the three 2p orbitals

sp Orbital Hybridization
2 equivalent half-filled sp hybrid orbitals plus 2 p orbitals left unhybridized

sp Orbital Hybridization
sp Orbital Hybridization
p Bonding in Acetylene
p Bonding in Acetylene
one p bond involves one of the p orbitals on each carbon
there is a second p bond perpendicular to this one

p Bonding in Acetylene
p Bonding in Acetylene
1.19
Which Theory of
Chemical Bonding is Best?
Three Models
Lewis
most familiar�easiest to apply
Valence-Bond (Orbital Hybridization)
provides more insight than Lewis model
ability to connect structure and reactivity to hybridization develops with practice
Molecular Orbital
potentially the most powerful method
but is the most abstract
requires the most experience to use effectively