Question

What is the hybridization of the central atom of $SiO_2$?
A.\[sp\]
B.\[s{p^2}\]
C.\[s{p^3}\]
D.\[s{p^3}d\]

Answer 1

Hint: Chemical reactions are of many types, they are decomposition reaction, combination reaction, single-displacement reaction, double-displacement reaction and combustion reaction. All these reactions are carried out in different ways and give different products. To answer the above question, we will first state the type of reaction and then look at how those reactions undergo.

Complete answer:
We have to find hybridization of the compound, $SiO_2$ Before answering this let us look at different types of hybridizations.
We will learn about \[sp,s{p^2},s{p^3},s{p^3}d,s{p^3}{d^2},s{p^3}{d^3}\].
In \[sp\]hybridization: the mixing of 1 s-orbital and 1 p-orbital.
In \[s{p^2}\]hybridization: there is mixing of 1 s-orbital and 2-p orbitals.
In \[s{p^3}\]hybridization: there is mixing of 1 s-orbital and 3-p orbitals.
In \[s{p^3}d\]hybridization: there is mixing of 1 s-orbital, 3 p-orbitals and 1 d-orbital.
In \[s{p^3}{d^2}\] hybridization: there is mixing of 1 s-orbital, 3 p-orbitals and 2 d-orbitals.
In \[s{p^3}{d^3}\] hybridization: there is mixing of 1 s-orbital, 3 p-orbitals and 3 d-orbitals.
Let us look at the structure of SiO₂, it is similar to the structure of CO₂.

This compound has 2 lone pairs on each oxygen atom and 4 bonds in total.
There is a formula for calculating the hybridization it is,
Hybridization number= lone pairs on central atom + number of atoms attached to central metal atom.
Looking at the diagram we see that the central metal atom has no lone pair of electrons. And there are 2 atoms attached to the central metal atom.
Hence the hybridization number= 0+2=2
As the hybridization number is 2 its hybridization will be \[sp\].
Hence the correct answer to this question is option A.

Note:
There is another way of finding hybridization: it is the number of lone pairs + number of sigma bonds in the compound. Look at the table to determine the hybridization:

Lone pairs+sigma bonds	hybridization
2	\[sp\]
3	\[s{p^2}\]
4	\[s{p^3}\]

 Like in this compound there are 2 sigma bonds and no lone pairs hence the hybridization will be \[sp\].