Question

What is the hybridization of oxygen in the given molecule

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

Answer 1

The correct option is B

$s{p}^2$

Although the oxygen does have two lone pairs, one of them is delocalized to give rise to 4n + 2 = 6 $\pi$ electrons in an aromatic ring. The other lone pair lies in a regular $s{p}^2$ hybrid orbitals.