Question
Question: The correct order regarding the electronegativity of hybrid orbitals of carbon is: A) \(\text{ sp}...
The correct order regarding the electronegativity of hybrid orbitals of carbon is:
A) sp> sp2 < sp3
B) sp> sp2 > sp3
C) sp< sp2 > sp3
D) sp< sp2 < sp3
Solution
The electronegativity of hybrid orbitals can be estimated from the percentage of s and p orbitals. S-orbitals are closest to the nucleus and thus have a higher affinity towards the electrons. The relation between the electronegativity and s-character is as below,
S-character ∝Electronegativity p-character1 ∝Electronegativity
Complete Solution :
S orbital is a spherical orbital. It is closer to the nucleus and the s-orbital is tightly held by the nucleus than the p, d, and f orbital.
- Atomic orbitals of carbon atoms hybridized into three different sets of orbitals. The one s-orbital and three p-orbitals combine to produce sp3 hybrid orbitals.in sp3 hybrid orbitals, the percentage of s-character is 250/0 while p-orbitals has a total of 750/0 character. Due to the higher content of p-orbital, the sp3 hybrid orbitals cannot attract the electron pair effectively.
- The one s-orbital and two p-orbitals combine to produce sp2 hybrid orbitals.in sp2 hybrid orbitals, the percentage of s-character is 33.330/0 while p-orbitals has a total of 66.660/0 character. Due to the relatively higher content of p-orbital, the sp2 hybrid orbitals are relatively more electronegative than sp3 a carbon atom. Here s-orbital has 33.330/0 the character which is more than that of sp3 .
- In the third set of hybrid orbitals one s-orbital and one p-orbitals combine to produce sp hybrid orbitals.in sp hybrid orbitals, the percentage of s-character is 500/0 while p-orbitals has a total of 500/0 character. Due to the higher s-orbital character, the sp hybridized carbon atom has a higher tendency to attract the electron density. Therefore, sp orbitals are more electronegative than sp2 and sp3 hybrid orbitals.
Now the correct order regarding the electronegativity of hybrid orbitals of carbon is as follows,
sp> sp2 > sp3
So, the correct answer is “Option B”.
Note: Note that, the sp hybrid carbon atoms are more electronegative. Due to higher electronegativity, they can easily attract the electron from the bonding pair. Similarly, due to higher electronegativity, the sp hybridized orbitals have a greater tendency to lose a proton and are acidic in nature.