I keep getting “Hybridization” questions wrong in Chemical Bonding & Molecular Structure. What's the trap?
predicting geometry without counting lone pairs in the hybridization.
The trap: hybridization sets the electron-pair geometry, but lone pairs then bend the actual molecular shape (VSEPR). sp³ means four electron pairs in a tetrahedral arrangement — yet CH₄ is tetrahedral, NH₃ is pyramidal and H₂O is bent, though all three are sp³. So: sp → linear, sp² → trigonal planar, sp³ → tetrahedral for the electron pairs; then subtract the lone pairs to read off the molecule's real shape.
Key point
Hybridization
Common mistake
predicting geometry without counting lone pairs in the hybridization.
Memory tip
sp³ → tetrahedral, sp² → trigonal planar, sp → linear.
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