Question

The orbitals which have only unpaired electrons can participate in hybridization.

• A. True
• B. False

Answer 1

The correct option is B

False

Generally, orbitals which have impaired electrons participate in the overlapping of a covalent bond. That is why we think that only these orbitals participate in hybridization. But this is incorrect.
Let’s take an example. The most common example of $N{H}_3$.


→ 3 $s{p}^3$ hybrid orbital will overlap with 1s orbital of three hydrogen atoms.
→ 1 $s{p}^3$ hybrid orbital will contain a lone pair.

From this example, we can see that orbitals which have fully paired electrons also participate in hybridization. It contains the lone pair.