The oxygen atoms in O2 participate in multiple bonding, whereas those in hydrogen peroxide, H2O2, do not. What is the hybridization of the oxygen atoms in each molecule? What is the hybridization of the oxygen atoms in O2? What is the hybridization of the oxygen atoms in H2O2?

Verified step by step guidance

Step 1: Understand the concept of hybridization, which involves the mixing of atomic orbitals to form new hybrid orbitals suitable for the pairing of electrons to form chemical bonds.

Step 2: Analyze the molecular structure of O2. Oxygen in O2 forms a double bond, which involves one sigma (σ) bond and one pi (π) bond. The hybridization of oxygen in O2 is determined by the sigma bond.

Step 3: Determine the hybridization of oxygen in O2. Since the oxygen atom forms one sigma bond and has two lone pairs, it uses sp2 hybridization, which involves one s orbital and two p orbitals.

Step 4: Examine the molecular structure of H2O2. Each oxygen atom in H2O2 forms two sigma bonds (one with hydrogen and one with the other oxygen) and has two lone pairs.

Step 5: Determine the hybridization of oxygen in H2O2. The oxygen atoms in H2O2 use sp3 hybridization, which involves one s orbital and three p orbitals, to accommodate the two sigma bonds and two lone pairs.

Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Hybridization

Hybridization is a concept in chemistry that describes the mixing of atomic orbitals to form new hybrid orbitals, which can explain the geometry and bonding properties of molecules. In hybridization, atomic orbitals such as s, p, and sometimes d orbitals combine to create equivalent orbitals that are oriented in specific directions to minimize electron repulsion.

Molecular Geometry

Molecular geometry refers to the three-dimensional arrangement of atoms within a molecule. The geometry is determined by the number of bonding pairs and lone pairs of electrons around the central atom, which influences the hybridization state. For example, in O2, the linear arrangement corresponds to sp hybridization, while in H2O2, the bent structure indicates a different hybridization.

Bonding Types

Bonding types, including single, double, and triple bonds, describe how atoms are connected in a molecule. In O2, the oxygen atoms are connected by a double bond, which involves the sharing of two pairs of electrons, leading to sp hybridization. In contrast, H2O2 has single bonds between oxygen and hydrogen, resulting in a different hybridization state for the oxygen atoms, typically sp3.

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Bonding Types

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