Q1-1-35E - Organic Chemistry (Mcmurry)

Question

What is the hybridization of each carbon atom in acetonitrile?

Step-by-Step Solution

Answer

                          Hybridization of carbon in acetonitrile

Hybridization of carbon atoms

A carbon atom with four atoms bound to it is sp³, a carbon atom with three atoms bound to it is sp², and a carbon atom with two atoms bound to it is sp .

Acetonitrile molecule

In the acetonitrile molecule represented below we can see that the carbon with three hydrogens bound to it has four atoms so it is and the carbon bound to nitrogen has bonded to two atoms so it is sp.