Questions on Hybrid Orbitals – sp, sp², sp³
Multiple-Choice Questions: Hybrid Orbitals – sp, sp², sp³
1. What is the geometry associated with sp hybridization?
A) Tetrahedral
B) Trigonal planar
C) Linear
D) Bent
E) Octahedral
2. Which of the following molecules involves sp³ hybridization?
A) CO₂
B) BF₃
C) CH₄
D) C₂H₂
E) BeCl₂
3. In sp² hybridization, the orbitals arrange themselves in which geometry?
A) Tetrahedral
B) Linear
C) Octahedral
D) Trigonal planar
E) Square planar
4. Which hybridization corresponds to a molecule with 180° bond angles?
A) sp
B) sp²
C) sp³
D) sp³d
E) sp³d²
5. What is the hybridization of the central atom in H₂O?
A) sp
B) sp²
C) sp³
D) sp³d
E) sp³d²
6. What is the number of hybrid orbitals formed in sp³ hybridization?
A) 1
B) 2
C) 3
D) 4
E) 5
7. The molecule C₂H₂ (ethyne) involves which hybridization in carbon atoms?
A) sp
B) sp²
C) sp³
D) sp³d
E) None
8. Which of the following compounds exhibits sp² hybridization at the central atom?
A) H₂O
B) CO₂
C) BF₃
D) CH₄
E) NH₃
9. What is the typical bond angle in an sp² hybridized atom?
A) 180°
B) 120°
C) 109.5°
D) 90°
E) 104.5°
10. Which of the following exhibits a trigonal planar shape due to sp² hybridization?
A) CH₄
B) NH₃
C) BF₃
D) H₂O
E) C₂H₆
11. How many unhybridized p orbitals remain in sp² hybridization?
A) 0
B) 1
C) 2
D) 3
E) 4
12. Which molecule has a tetrahedral geometry due to sp³ hybridization?
A) BeCl₂
B) CH₄
C) C₂H₂
D) BF₃
E) CO₂
13. In a molecule of NH₃, what is the hybridization of nitrogen?
A) sp
B) sp²
C) sp³
D) sp³d
E) sp³d²
14. What is the shape of a molecule with sp³ hybridization and two lone pairs?
A) Linear
B) Trigonal planar
C) Bent
D) Tetrahedral
E) See-saw
15. Which of the following molecules has carbon atoms with sp² hybridization?
A) C₂H₂
B) CH₄
C) C₂H₄
D) CCl₄
E) CO₂
16. Which of the following is NOT a possible bond angle in sp³ hybridization?
A) 109.5°
B) 104.5°
C) 90°
D) 107°
E) All are possible
17. What type of bond results from unhybridized p orbitals in sp² hybridization?
A) Sigma
B) Ionic
C) Pi
D) Covalent
E) Metallic
18. The molecule CO₂ is linear. What is the hybridization of the carbon atom?
A) sp
B) sp²
C) sp³
D) sp³d
E) sp³d²
19. The central atom in CH₄ has which of the following characteristics?
A) 2 hybrid orbitals, linear shape
B) 3 hybrid orbitals, planar shape
C) 4 hybrid orbitals, tetrahedral shape
D) 5 hybrid orbitals, trigonal bipyramidal
E) 6 hybrid orbitals, octahedral
20. Which of the following hybridizations is used when an atom forms two sigma bonds and no lone pairs?
A) sp
B) sp²
C) sp³
D) sp³d
E) sp³d²
21. What is the hybridization of the oxygen atom in ethanol (CH₃CH₂OH)?
A) sp
B) sp²
C) sp³
D) sp³d
E) sp³d²
22. How many sigma bonds are formed by an sp² hybridized carbon atom?
A) 1
B) 2
C) 3
D) 4
E) 5
23. Which type of hybrid orbital is formed from one s and three p orbitals?
A) sp
B) sp²
C) sp³
D) sp³d
E) sp³d²
24. In a triple bond, how many orbitals are hybridized?
A) None
B) One
C) Two
D) Three
E) Four
25. What hybridization would be expected for carbon in a molecule with two double bonds?
A) sp
B) sp²
C) sp³
D) sp³d
E) None
26. Which hybridization gives rise to the highest bond angle among sp, sp², and sp³?
A) sp
B) sp²
C) sp³
D) All equal
E) None
27. Which of the following compounds contains both sp² and sp³ hybridized atoms?
A) CH₄
B) C₂H₂
C) CH₃CH=CH₂
D) BF₃
E) CO₂
28. How many electron domains are around a central atom with sp³ hybridization?
A) 1
B) 2
C) 3
D) 4
E) 5
29. What is the hybridization of the nitrogen atom in NO₃⁻ (nitrate ion)?
A) sp
B) sp²
C) sp³
D) sp³d
E) None
30. What kind of hybridization is most consistent with an atom that has 3 sigma bonds and no lone pairs?
A) sp
B) sp²
C) sp³
D) sp³d
E) sp³d²
Answers and Explanations
1. C) sp hybridization → linear geometry
2. C) CH₄ has sp³ hybridization (4 sigma bonds)
3. D) sp² → trigonal planar
4. A) sp → 180° bond angles
5. C) H₂O → sp³ (2 bonds + 2 lone pairs)
6. D) sp³ gives 4 hybrid orbitals
7. A) C₂H₂ has sp hybridized carbon atoms
8. C) BF₃ → central atom (B) is sp²
9. B) sp² → 120°
10. C) BF₃ has trigonal planar shape due to sp²
11. B) 1 p orbital remains unhybridized in sp²
12. B) CH₄ → tetrahedral (sp³)
13. C) NH₃ → sp³ (one lone pair)
14. C) H₂O has bent shape with sp³ and 2 lone pairs
15. C) C₂H₄ → sp² hybridized carbons
16. C) 90° is not typical in sp³ hybridization
17. C) unhybridized p orbitals → pi bonds
18. A) CO₂ → carbon is sp hybridized
19. C) CH₄ → 4 hybrid orbitals, tetrahedral
20. A) 2 sigma bonds → sp hybridization
21. C) O in ethanol → 2 lone pairs + 2 bonds → sp³
22. C) sp² carbon forms 3 sigma bonds
23. C) sp³ = 1s + 3p
24. C) In a triple bond → 2 hybridized orbitals per atom
25. B) 2 double bonds → sp²
26. A) sp → 180°, the highest angle
27. C) CH₃CH=CH₂ → sp² (double bond) and sp³ (single bond)
28. D) sp³ → 4 electron domains
29. B) NO₃⁻ → central N has 3 bonding domains → sp²
30. B) 3 sigma bonds, no lone pairs → sp²
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