Question

What is the decreasing order of electronegativi-ties of $C_{sp^{3}}$, $C_{sp^{2}}$ and $C_{sp}$ atoms?

Answer 1

Decreasing order of electronegativity :

$\sf{C_{sp} > C_{sp^2} > C_{sp^3}}$

This is because $\sf{sp}$ has 50% s - character, $\sf{sp^2}$ has 33.33% s - character and $\sf{sp^3}$ has 25% s - character.

More the s - character, more will be its electronegativity.

Answer 2

1. The s-orbital is more electro-negative compared to the p-orbitals.

2. In case of sp orbitals. The percentage of s and p orbitals occupies 50%-50%

3. In case of ${ sp }^{ 2 }$ orbitals. The percentage of p-orbital is twice to that of s-orbital

4. In case of ${ sp }^{ 2 }$ orbitals. The percentage of p-orbital is thrice to that of s-orbital

5. Therefore if the percentage of s-orbital decreases the electronegativity also decreases.

6. The decreasing order of electro-negativity is ${ sp }^{ 3 } < { sp }^{ 2 } < sp.$