Question

the number of hybrid orbitals in a molecule of decanter are?

Answer 1

This is a question taken from a Quantum Chemistry section of an exam at the University of Texas at Dallas. This question asks us to “consider the four valance electrons of each carbon atom”. As you may know, only the valence electrons take place in bond formation, and each carbon utilizes its 4 valence electrons to create bonds and obtain the lowest formal energy. A single bond denotes 1 sigma bond. A double bond denotes 1 sigma bond and 1 pi bond. A triple bond denotes 1 sigma bond and 2 pi bonds. If each carbon creates a sigma bond with a hydrogen, and triple bond (1 sigma and 2 pi bonds) with homogeneous carbon, therefore there will be 4 hybrid orbitals of each carbon. The quantity of hybrid orbitals is the additive amount of sigma and pi bonds in a bond.