Question

The change in hybridization of carbon in the reaction:
$Acetamide+{{P}_{2}}{{O}_{5}}\to C{{H}_{3}}CN$; is
A. $s{{p}^{3}}\ to\ s{{p}^{2}}$
B. $s{{p}^{2}}\ to\ s{{p}^{3}}$
C. $sp\ to\ s{{p}^{3}}$
D. $s{{p}^{2}}\ to\ sp$

Answer 1

Hybridization can be defined as the mixing of two atomic orbitals which have the same energy levels and by this mixing they provide a degenerated new type of orbitals and the mixing is based on quantum mechanics.

Complete answer:
Hybridization can also be defined as the redistribution of the energy of orbitals of individual atoms to give orbitals of equivalent energy happens when two atomic orbitals combine to form hybrid orbital in a molecule and the new orbitals formed in this process are known as hybrid orbitals. On the basis of mixing hybridization can be classified in 6 categories which can be shown as: $sp,s{{p}^{2}},s{{p}^{3}},s{{p}^{3}}d,s{{p}^{3}}{{d}^{2}},s{{p}^{3}}{{d}^{3}}$.
In the given question acetamide given by the molecular formula $C{{H}_{3}}CON{{H}_{2}}$ generally contains an amide group i.e. $CON{{H}_{2}}$ group in which a carbon atom is attached with an oxygen atom through a double bond so we can consider in this case carbon atom is $s{{p}^{2}}$ hybridized. In the product $C{{H}_{3}}CN$ is given which is known by the name acetonitrile which contains a nitrile group i.e. $CN$ group and in this case carbon atom is attached with nitrogen atom through a triple bond and in this case carbon is $sp$ hybridized.
So we can say that during conversion acetamide to acetonitrile the hybridization of carbon changes from $s{{p}^{2}}$ to $sp$.

Thus we can say that option D is the correct answer.

Note:
Atomic orbitals which have equal energy can undergo the process of hybridization and the number of hybrid orbitals are equal to the number of atomic orbitals mixed. The main application of hybridization is that we can predict the shape of molecules.