What orbital hybridisation?

Orbital hybridisation is a model used to explain covalent bonding in molecules. It involves the merging of orbitals that are on the same energy level to form new hybrid orbitals.

Orbital hybridisation most commonly occurs with the merging of the s and p orbitals. Though in the same energy level the s orbitals have a lower energy than the p orbitals, the hybrid orbitals have an energy between the s and p orbitals. An atom can be sp, sp2 or sp3 hybridised depending if the s orbital was merged with one, two or three orbitals respectively. Thus the exponent on the p refers to the number of p orbitals that merged with the s orbital. These new hybrid orbitals can bond with other orbitals just like any other orbitals.

LR
Answered by Lukas R. Chemistry tutor

2690 Views

See similar Chemistry IB tutors

Related Chemistry IB answers

All answers ▸

Explain whether the boiling point of 1-bromopentane will be higher, lower or the same as that of 2-bromo-2-methylbutane. (3)


What does the rate of chemical reactions depend on?


Explain whether phosphine or ammonia has a higher boiling point


What are the optimal conditions for the Haber Process N2(g) + 3H2(g) <--> 2NH3(g)? Use Le Chatelier's principle to derive your answer.


We're here to help

contact us iconContact ustelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo

MyTutor is part of the IXL family of brands:

© 2025 by IXL Learning