Question

How to tell if a central element in a molecule needs to form hybridized orbitals?

Answer 1

Hint Hybridization is the mixing of orbitals and not electrons, therefore in hybridization full filled or half-filled or empty orbitals may take part.
Mixing of different shapes and approximates equal energy atomic orbitals, and redistribution of energy to form new orbitals, of same shape and same energy. These new orbitals are called hybrid orbitals and the phenomenon is called hybridization.

Complete Step by step solution:
- In the question it is asked how we can say that the central element in a molecule needs to form hybridized orbitals.
- Take an example to explain the concept of the need to form hybridized orbitals by the central atom.
- Consider the water molecule (${{H}_{2}}O$ ).
- The hybridization of oxygen in water is $s{{p}^{3}}$ means oxygen is contributing to form four $s{{p}^{3}}$ hybridized atomic orbitals.
- Oxygen is bonding to more than one hydrogen in the water molecule. By this we say that hybridization is occurring.
- Oxygen is bonding to hydrogen in a non-horizontal direction means hybridization is occurring to orient all orbitals correctly.
- Means the bond between the oxygen and two hydrogen should be identical, then the central atom should form a hybridized orbitals to form a molecule.

Note: s-orbital are non-directional in nature, so it will overlap in any direction, while p-orbitals are directional in nature.
Hybrid orbits are directional in nature and have minimum repulsion between the electron pairs and bond pairs, so this will increase the stability of molecules.