What is the hybridization of the central atom in NOCl? Hybridization =
The correct answer and explanation is :
The hybridization of the central atom in NOCl (Nitrosyl chloride) is sp².
Explanation:
In NOCl, the central atom is nitrogen (N). To determine its hybridization, we need to look at the number of bonding regions and lone pairs around nitrogen.
- Electron Domain Count:
- Nitrogen is bonded to one oxygen (O) atom through a double bond and one chlorine (Cl) atom through a single bond. These two bonds count as two electron domains around nitrogen.
- Nitrogen also has one lone pair of electrons. This lone pair also counts as an electron domain.
So, nitrogen has 3 regions of electron density around it (2 bonds + 1 lone pair).
- Hybridization:
- When there are three regions of electron density, the hybridization of the central atom is sp². This means nitrogen will have three sp² hybrid orbitals: two of these orbitals form sigma bonds (one with oxygen and one with chlorine), and the third orbital holds the lone pair of electrons.
- The remaining p orbital (which is unhybridized) participates in the formation of a π bond with oxygen.
- Geometry:
- With sp² hybridization, the geometry around nitrogen is trigonal planar, which means the bond angles between the atoms are approximately 120°.
Thus, the nitrogen atom in NOCl adopts sp² hybridization due to its three electron domains, and this gives it a trigonal planar geometry.
Here is the image illustrating the molecular structure of Nitrosyl chloride (NOCl) with the central nitrogen atom’s sp² hybridization. The structure shows nitrogen bonded to oxygen with a double bond, chlorine with a single bond, and a lone pair on nitrogen. The geometry is trigonal planar, as expected for sp² hybridized atoms.