Question

Percentage of s-character in \[s{p^3}\] hybrid orbital is
A) 25
B) 50
C) 66
D) 75

Answer 1

Hint: The combination of atomic orbitals results to form a hybrid orbital. The hybrid orbitals are suitable for bond formation following the predicted directions of VSEPR theory. Here, we have to calculate the s character in \[s{p^3}\] hybridisation.

Complete Step by Step Answer:
The term \[s{p^3}\] hybridization defines the combination of one 2s orbital and three 2p orbitals. And this hybridization produces four hybrid orbitals having identical properties. For an atom to be \[s{p^3}\] hybridised, an atom must have one number of s orbital and three numbers of p orbital.

The orbitals are defined as the regions where the electrons reside. And they are of four types, s, p, d, and f. The azimuthal quantum number determines the values of s,p, d, and f. The shape of the s orbital is spherical, the p orbital is polar in nature. The s orbital can accommodate two numbers of electrons, the p orbital can hold six numbers of electrons, the d orbital has ten electrons and the f orbital can hold fourteen electrons.

In \[s{p^3}\] orbital, the s character has 25% or \[\dfrac{1}{4}\] s-character.
Therefore, the right answer is option A.

Additional Information: In the case of a molecule having \[s{p^2}\] hybridization, the percentage of s character is 33%. And in the case of sp hybridization, the s-character is 50%.

Note: The amount of s or p characters is determined by the orbital hybridization, which can be used for the properties of molecules such as acidity or basicity with accuracy. The bonding in the case of methane and alkanes is explained by the theory of hybridization.