In an sp3 hybridised carbon, the angle between the hybrid orbitals is
- A. 90 degrees
- B. 109.5 degrees
- C. 120 degrees
- D. 180 degrees
Explanation
Four equivalent orbitals repel each other to the corners of a tetrahedron, which places them at 109.5 degrees. The sp2 arrangement gives 120 degrees in a plane and sp gives 180 degrees in a line. Each hybridisation is associated with a fixed geometry, which is worth memorising as a set.