Hybrydyzacja

Hybrydyzacja refers to the process of combining two or more different atomic orbitals within an atom to form new atomic orbitals of equivalent energy. This phenomenon is particularly important in understanding the bonding in molecules, especially organic molecules. The concept was first introduced by Linus Pauling.

When atomic orbitals hybridize, they lose their original shapes and energy levels, and instead form a new set of degenerate (equal energy) orbitals. The number of hybrid orbitals formed is always equal to the number of atomic orbitals that were mixed. For example, if one s orbital and three p orbitals combine, four sp3 hybrid orbitals are formed. These hybrid orbitals have different shapes and orientations in space compared to the original atomic orbitals, which allows for more effective overlap with orbitals from other atoms, leading to stronger covalent bonds.

The most common types of hybridization include sp, sp2, and sp3. Sp hybridization involves mixing one s orbital and one p orbital to form two sp hybrid orbitals, typically resulting in a linear molecular geometry. Sp2 hybridization mixes one s orbital and two p orbitals to create three sp2 hybrid orbitals, leading to a trigonal planar geometry. Sp3 hybridization, as mentioned, involves one s and three p orbitals, producing four sp3 hybrid orbitals arranged tetrahedrally. The type of hybridization adopted by an atom depends on the number of electron groups (bonding pairs and lone pairs) around it, as dictated by VSEPR theory.