What is an sp3 Hybridized Carbon atom

What is an sp³ Hybridized Carbon atom

sp³ Hybridisation

In the excited carbon atom its one s-orbital (2s) and three p-orbitals (2p_x , 2p_y, 2p_z) intermix and reshuffle into four identical orbitals known as sp³ orbitals. Thus, carbon atom undergoes  sp³ hybridisation.
The four electrons enter into the new four identical hybrid orbitals known as sp³ hybrid orbitals one each as per Hund’s rule. (because they are made from one ‘s-orbital’ and three ‘p-orbitals’ they are called sp³ orbitals).

The hybridisation enables the carbon to have four identical sp³ hybrid orbitals and these have one electron each. Since carbon has four unpaired electrons, it is capable of forming bonds with four other atoms may be carbon or atoms of some other monovalent element. When carbon reacts with hydrogen, four hydrogen atoms allow their ‘s’ orbitals containing one electron each to overlap the four sp³ orbitals of carbon atom which are orieted at an angle of 109°28′. (Four orbitals of an atom in the outer shell orient along the four corners of a tetrahedron to have minimum repulsion between their electrons). The nucleus of the atom is at the centre of the tetrahedron. See figures below:

This leads to form four sp³ – s sigma bonds between carbon atom and four hydrogen atoms. All these bonds are of equal energy.

Read More:

• Binding of Carbon with other Elements
• Homologous Series of Hydrocarbons
• Allotropes of Carbon
• Catenation in Carbon
• Classification of Hydrocarbons
• Hybridization of the Carbon atoms in Acetylene
• Versatile Nature of Carbon
• What are the Characteristics of Compounds
• Chemical Properties of Carbon Compounds
• Nomenclature of Carbon Compounds