what do you mean by singlet and triplet carbons
Answers
A carbene is a neutral divalent carbon species containing two electrons that are not shared with other atoms. When these two electrons have opposite spins, the carbene is designated a singlet carbene; when they have parallel spins, the carbene is a triplet.
Answer:
In singlet state carbon atom is in sp2 hybridisation state. One of sp2 hybrid orbital contains unshared electron pair with opposite spins & two sp2 hybrid orbitals form two covalent bonds . The geometry is planar.There is no magnetic moment in this state.
In many triplet Carbene , carbon atom is in sp hybridization state. Two hybrid orbitals form sigma bond . Two remaining electrons with parallel spin occupy mutually perpendicular py & Pz orbitals. Geometry is linear . Such carbene would have magnetic moment.Triplet carbenes are also known where carbon atom is in sp2 hybridisation state.Two nonbonding electrons occupy an sp2 atomic orbital & an unhybridized p-atomic orbital with parallel spin.Their geometry is bent .