Question

What is the hybridization of manganese in potasdium permanganate?

Answer 1

The four O2− ions are considered to be donating two electrons each to the atomic orbitals. Tetrahedral "hybridisation" can be achieved by using the 4s, 3dxy, 3dyz, and 3dxz AOs. Since in Mn(VII) the 3d AOs are lower in energy than the 4s and 4p AOs, the "hybridisation" is best considered as d3s.

I have put "hybridisation" in quotes because it is not used in advanced chemistry (it is an artifact!) but it is correct in saying that the bonding MOs contain mostly 4s, 3dxy, 3dyz character but they'll also probably mix some 4p character in there for good measure!

By Expert

Prakash [Thanks]