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Hybridization of Orbitals

Carbon's 2s and 2p orbitals are hybridized, in turn, into sp3, sp2 and sp orbitals.

This animation shows carbon's 2s and 2p orbitals mixing and forming hybrid orbitals. The student can choose whether to hybridize 2, 3 or 4 orbitals. Tetrahedral, trigonal planar and linear structures are shown, and sigma and pi bonds are identified.