Hybridised Atoms: Shapes & Bond Angles in Molecules
- Each carbon atom has four electrons in its outer shell (electronic configuration: 1s22s22p2)
- Carbon atoms share these four electrons in four covalent bonds with other atoms to achieve a full outer shell configuration
- These electrons are found in orbitals within the respective atoms
- When forming a covalent bond, the orbitals overlap in such a way to form two types of bonds
- Sigma bonds (σ)
- Pi bonds (π)
Hybridisation: sp3
- The electron pair in a σ bond is found in a region of space between the nuclei of the two atoms that are sharing the electrons
- The electrostatic attraction between the electrons (negatively charged) and the two nuclei (positively charged) holds the two atoms together
- Carbon atoms that form four σ bonds are said to be sp3 hybridised
- The four pairs of electrons around each carbon repel each other forcing the molecule to adopt a configuration in which the bonding pairs of electrons are as far away from each other as possible
- The molecule adopts a tetrahedral arrangement with bond angles of 109.5 o
Bonding in ethane
The diagram shows a molecule of ethane in which each carbon atom forms four σ bonds to adopt a tetrahedral configuration and minimise the repulsion between the bonding pairs of electrons
Hybridisation: sp2
- When carbon atoms use only three of their electron pairs to form a σ bond, they are said to be sp2 hybridised
- Each carbon atom will have a p orbital with contains one spare electron
- When the p orbitals of two carbon atoms overlap with each other, a π bond is formed (the π bond contains two electrons)
- The two orbitals that form the π bond lie above and below the plane of the two carbon atoms to maximise bond overlap
- The three bonding pairs of electrons are in the plane of the molecule and repel each other
- The molecule adopts a planar arrangement with bond angles of 120 o
Bonding in ethene
The overlap of the two p orbitals results in the formation of a π bond in ethene (sp2 hybridised molecule) in which the bonding pair of electrons repel each other to force the molecule into a planar configuration with bond angles of 120o
Hybridisation: sp
- Carbon atoms can also use only one of their electron pair to form a σ bond, in which case the carbon atoms are said to be sp hybridised
- Each carbon atom will have two p orbitals with one spare electron each
- When the four p orbitals of the carbon atoms overlap with each other, two π bonds are formed (each π bond contains two electrons)
- The two orbitals that form the π bond lie above and below the plane of the carbon atoms
- The two orbitals of the other π bond lie in front and behind the plane of the atoms
- This maximises the overlap of the four p orbitals
- The molecule adopts a linear arrangement with bond angles 180 o
Bonding in ethyne
The overlap of the p orbitals results in the formation of two π bonds in ethyne (sp hybridised molecule) which adopts a linear arrangement with bond angles of 180o
Examiner Tip
A double bond is a combination of a σ and π bond and a triple bond is a combination of one σ and two π bonds
The strength of the bonds increases as follows: single < double < triple bond
This is due to the increased electron density around the C-C atom, making the bond stronger and more difficult to break.