Question

What is meant by hybridisation? Compound CH₂ = C = CH₂ contains sp or sp² hybridised carbon atoms. Will it be a planar molecule?

Answer 1

The atomic orbitals combine to give rise to a new set of equivalent orbitals called hybrid orbitals and are used in bond formation. This phenomenon is known as hybridization which can be defined as the process of intermixing of the orbitals of slightly different energies so as to redistribute their energies, resulting in the formation of new sets of orbitals having equivalent energies and shape. In  CH₂ = C = CH₂ (allene) carbon atom l and 3 are sp² hybridized as each one has 3σ bonds while carbon atom 2 has 2σ bonds so it is sp hybridized while the allene molecule as a whole is found to be non-planar.