What is the hybridization for C2H6? my teacher wrote sp-s sigma bond [C-H] and sp-sp sigma bond[C-C]

1 Answer
Mar 1, 2016

Either your teacher is incorrect or your molecular formula is incorrect.

IF YOUR FORMULA IS CORRECT

"C"_2"H"_6 has an sp^3 hybridization on each carbon because of the four electron groups surrounding each carbon. It made four identical bonds in a perfect tetrahedral geometry, which means it needed four identical orbitals to make those bonds.

Each carbon has to hybridize one 2s and three 2p orbitals in order to generate four identical sp^3 orbitals that are compatible in symmetry with hydrogen's 1s orbitals.

![http://philschatz.com/](useruploads.socratic.org)

Therefore, each "C"-"H" bond in "C"_2"H"_6 is between an sp^3 of carbon (YELLOW) and a 1s of hydrogen (BLUE sphere), i.e. an sp^3-s connection (the YELLOW/BLUE overlap in (b)), and each "C"-"C" bond is an sp^3-sp^3 connection (the YELLOW overlap in (b)).

IF YOUR TEACHER WAS CORRECT ON THE HYBRIDIZATIONS

On the other hand, "C"_2"H"_2 would match your teacher's observations.

With two electron groups on a POLYatomic molecule, each carbon requires only two sp lobes and hence only one sp hybridized orbital to bond with the other carbon AND a single hydrogen.

![http://philschatz.com/](useruploads.socratic.org)

In this case we can see that:

  • The sp of carbon 1 (YELLOW dumbbell) overlaps with one hydrogen's 1s (BLUE sphere) to make a \mathbf(sigma) bond.
  • The sp of carbon 1 (YELLOW dumbbell) overlaps with the sp of carbon 2 (YELLOW dumbbell) and vice versa to make a \mathbf(sigma) bond.
  • The sp of carbon 2 (YELLOW dumbbell) overlaps with the second hydrogen's 1s (BLUE sphere) to make a \mathbf(sigma) bond.

Each triple bond incorporates an additional p_x"/"p_x and p_y"/"p_y overlap between carbons 1 and 2, accounting for two pi bonds (i.e. p-p connections).

Hence, when including those two p-p pi bonds with the sp-sp sigma bond between carbons 1 and 2, we have accounted for the the triple bond between carbons 1 and 2.

(One triple bond = 1 sigma + 2 pi bonds)