sp3 hybridization
Carbon's four bonds
Sp3 hybridization is a model in chemistry describing how an atom's orbitals mix to form four equivalent bonding regions arranged in a tetrahedron.
Carbon in methane is the classic example: four hydrogen atoms surround the carbon at equal angles of about 109.5 degrees.
The concept explains molecular geometry—why molecules adopt particular three-dimensional shapes rather than others.
- tetrahedralHaving four triangular sides
- carbonSixth element, atomic symbol C
- methaneSimplest alkane fuel
- bondsTies that unite
- geometryScience of spatial relationships
diamond · orbitals · sigma · electron · valence · alkane · saturated · ethane · covalent · lobes · overlap · energy · molecule · pyramidal · bent · organic · three-dimensional · bonding
- chemical bondingcovalent bonds, ionic bonds, hydrogen bonds, double bonds, single bonds