Are lone pairs counted in hybridization?
Understand the Problem
The question is asking whether lone pairs of electrons are included when determining the hybridization of an atom in a molecule. Hybridization involves combining atomic orbitals to form new hybrid orbitals, and the number of these orbitals is influenced by both bonding pairs and lone pairs.
Answer
Yes
Yes, lone pairs are counted in hybridization.
Answer for screen readers
Yes, lone pairs are counted in hybridization.
More Information
Lone pairs count towards the total electron density around a central atom, which affects its hybridization state. For example, a lone pair and three bonded atoms result in a tetrahedral arrangement with sp³ hybridization.
Tips
A common mistake is to only consider bonded atoms and ignore lone pairs when determining hybridization.
Sources
- Lone Pairs in Hybridization - UCLA Chemistry Forum - lavelle.chem.ucla.edu
- How To Determine Hybridization: A Shortcut - Master Organic Chemistry - masterorganicchemistry.com
- Why are lone pairs also counted in hybridization? - Quora - quora.com
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