Atomic Orbitals vs. Molecular Orbitals and Hybridization

Therefore, in summary, when orbitals are hybridized, new hybrid Atomic Orbitals (AO) are formed and when they bond with another atomic orbitals, molecular orbitals are formed. Specifically, when an sp3 hybridized carbon bonds with a hydrogen, it forms a sigma bond with both bonding and anti-bonding molecular orbitals. There are plenty of tutorials available to explain this concept.
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Avi_R
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Hey everyone! I was wondering, when orbitals are hybridized, new hybrid Atomic Orbitals (AO) are formed. Now, when these hybrid atomic orbotals bond with another atomic orbitals, are molecular orbitals formed? For example, when 2 Hydrogens bond to form H2, the 1s orbitals overlap to form 2 Molecular orbitals. One bonding Molecular orbital and one antibonding Molecular orbital. When a sp3 hybridized carbon bonds with a hydrogen, the sp3 AO of carbon overlaps with the 1s AO of hydrogen. What is the resultant Molecular Orbital that is formed? Are antibonding molecular orbitals formed with this type of overlap? Any good tutorials to explain this?
 
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  • #2
The bond between an sp3 carbon and a hydrogen is called a sigma bond. There will of course be bonding and anti-bonding orbitals.
 
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Yes, when hybridized atomic orbitals bond with other atomic orbitals, molecular orbitals are formed. In the case of H2, the two 1s orbitals overlap to form two molecular orbitals - a bonding molecular orbital and an antibonding molecular orbital. The bonding molecular orbital is lower in energy and stabilizes the molecule, while the antibonding molecular orbital is higher in energy and destabilizes the molecule.

In the case of a sp3 hybridized carbon bonding with a hydrogen, the sp3 AO of carbon overlaps with the 1s AO of hydrogen to form a bonding molecular orbital. This results in the formation of a stable covalent bond between the two atoms. Antibonding molecular orbitals are not formed in this type of overlap.

There are many tutorials available online that explain the concept of molecular orbitals and hybridization in detail. Some good resources include Khan Academy, Chemguide, and Chem Libretexts. It is also helpful to practice drawing molecular orbital diagrams to better understand the concept.
 

FAQ: Atomic Orbitals vs. Molecular Orbitals and Hybridization

1. What is the difference between atomic orbitals and molecular orbitals?

Atomic orbitals are regions of space around an atom where electrons are most likely to be found. Molecular orbitals, on the other hand, are regions of space around a molecule where electrons are most likely to be found. Atomic orbitals are associated with individual atoms, while molecular orbitals are associated with a combination of atoms.

2. How do atomic orbitals and molecular orbitals differ in terms of energy levels?

Atomic orbitals have discrete energy levels, meaning that electrons can only occupy certain energy levels. Molecular orbitals, on the other hand, have a range of energy levels that can be occupied by electrons. This is due to the combination of atomic orbitals to form molecular orbitals, resulting in a broader range of energy levels.

3. What is hybridization and how does it relate to atomic and molecular orbitals?

Hybridization is the mixing of atomic orbitals to form hybrid orbitals. These hybrid orbitals have different shapes and energies than the original atomic orbitals. Hybridization is important in molecular bonding because it allows for the formation of stronger bonds by creating new orbitals that are better suited for bonding.

4. Can you explain the concept of sp, sp2, and sp3 hybridization?

Sp, sp2, and sp3 hybridization refer to the number of atomic orbitals that are combined to form hybrid orbitals. In sp hybridization, one s orbital and one p orbital combine to form two sp hybrid orbitals. In sp2 hybridization, one s orbital and two p orbitals combine to form three sp2 hybrid orbitals. In sp3 hybridization, one s orbital and three p orbitals combine to form four sp3 hybrid orbitals.

5. How does hybridization affect the shape and properties of a molecule?

Hybridization can greatly influence the shape and properties of a molecule. The type of hybridization, as well as the number and arrangement of hybrid orbitals, can determine the overall shape of a molecule. This, in turn, can affect the molecule's reactivity, polarity, and other physical and chemical properties.

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