What is the hybridization of the carbon atom in methanol? of the oxygen atom?

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Answer 1 · 2017-04-08T04:46:44

The hybridization of carbon is $sp^3$ : the oxygen atom is also $"sp"^3$ hybridized.**

Carbon starts with an electron configuration of $1s^2 2s^2 sp^2$ . This allows the formation of only 2 bonds.

Carbon then hybridizes to an electron configuration of $1s^2 4 sp^3$ that allows four bonds.

Oxygen has an electron configuration of $1s^2 2s^2 2p^4$
Oxygen with this electron configuration can form 2 bonds.

Like carbon, oxygen can also hybridize and form #sp^3 orbitals.

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In methane, carbon forms four bonds: three with hydrogen and one with oxygen.

The oxygen forms two bonds: 1 with carbon and 1 with the hydrogen of the alcohol group.