Question

Identify the hydrocarbons in which carbon atom is ${\text{sp}}^3$ hybridised.

• A. Methane
• B. Ethane
• C. Ethyne
• D. Ethene

Answer 1

Answer: (A), (B)

The correct options are
A Methane
B Ethane

${\text{sp}}^3$ hybridisation is observed when one ‘s’ orbital and three ‘p’ orbitals overlap to form four new orbitals having identical energy and shape. These newly formed orbitals are called ${\text{sp}}^3$ hybrid orbitals.

The table given below shows few hydrocarbons along with the hybridisation of the carbon atoms in them.

$$\begin{array}{ccc}MolecularFormula& Compound& Hybridisation\\ C{H}_4& Methane& s{p}^3\\ C_2{H}_6& Ethane& s{p}^3\\ C_2{H}_4& Ethene& s{p}^2\\ C_2{H}_2& Ethyne& sp\end{array}$$Hence, methane as well as ethane have ${\text{sp}}^3$ hybridised carbon atoms in their molecules.