Hybridization of the carbon atom indicated by (*) inCH3-*CH2-CH3, CH3-*C(triple bond)CH, and *CH2=CH2 is _______, ________, and________?

Answer:

For this question, we need to remember that carbons in alkanes (asshown in your picture of propane) are always sp³hybridized.

This is so because carbon makes 4 bonds, each one represents adifferent overlap of an orbital. Count the number of bondsand for each one we donate one orbital to each bond; s, p,p² and finally p³.

Therefore, the hybridization of that carbon starred issp³.

Now for a molecule with a triple bond, we kick off 2 of theorbitals since we will never account for the overlap in api bond! In a triple bond, we have 2 pi bonds, onesigma and then that carbon is bonded to another sigma. Therefore, we get sp hybridization.

Now, for a molecule with a double bond, we need to remember thatabout the same will be true, however, here there's only one pi bondand 3 sigmas. Therefore, the hybridization for these types ofmolecules would be sp² hybridized.