Question

How can I calculate hybridization of an atom?

Answer 1

Hybridization is defined as the concept of mixing two atomic orbitals which have the same energy level and this further gives two degenerate new orbitals. The intermixing is based on quantum mechanics.

Complete answer:
Hybridization is basically based on the basis mixing of hybrid orbitals and this can be classified into following types:
1. $sp$ hybridization: One s orbital is mixed with one p orbital and forms new equivalent atomic orbitals and these have linear shape.
2. $s{{p}^{2}}$hybridization: when one s and two p orbitals of the same shell of an atom are mixed together to form 3 equivalent orbits.
3. $s{{p}^{3}}$hybridization: When one s orbital and 3 p orbitals of an atom mixed together to form four new equivalent orbits, then this type of hybridization is known as tetrahedral hybridization.
4. $s{{p}^{3}}d$hybridization: In this type 3p orbitals mixed with d orbital and form five $s{{p}^{3}}d$ hybridized orbitals of equal energy and have trigonal bipyramidal geometry.
5. $s{{p}^{3}}{{d}^{2}}$hybridization: 1s, 3p and 2d orbitals got mixed to form 6 identical $s{{p}^{3}}{{d}^{2}}$hybrid orbitals.
Hence by knowing the mixing of orbitals we can easily calculate the hybridization and from that we can also detect the geometry of the compound.

Note:
The main condition for hybrid orbitals is that they must have equal amounts of energy. In the hybridization process atomic orbitals of the same energy get mixed with each other such as mixing of two s orbitals, two p orbitals or by mixing of one s orbital with one p orbital or one s orbital with one d orbital.