Question

Hybridisation of the carbon atom of carbonyl group is

• A. $sp$
• B. $s{p}^2$
• C. $s{p}^3$
• D. $s{p}^3{d}^2$

Answer 1

Answer: (B)

$s{p}^2$
A carbonyl group is a chemically organic functional group composed of a carbon atom double-bonded to an oxygen atom --> [=O] The simplest carbonyl groups are aldehydes and ketones usually attached to another carbon compound.

Just as in ethene or benzene, the carbon atom is joined to three other atoms. The carbon's electrons rearrange themselves, and promotion and hybridisation give sp² hybrid orbitals.

Hybridisation of the 2s orbital and two of the 2p orbitals means that the carbon atom now looks like the diagram on the right.

Three sp² hybrid orbitals are formed and these arrange themselves as far apart in space as they can - at 120° to each other. The remaining p orbital is at right angles to them.