What is the hybridization of ##”HCHO”## ?
February 20th, 2023
##”In formaldehyde………………..?”##
The carbon centre is ##sp^2-“hybridized………”##
There are 4 to distribute around carbon. Three of these electrons are ##sp^2-“hybridized”##, and they form ##2xxC-H##, and ##1xxC-O##, bonds. The fourth carbon electron remains unhybridized, and can overlap with an oxygen electron to form a ##pi-##bond, above and below the plane of the ##sp^2## framework.
A Lewis structure of ##H_2C=O## reflects this arrangement. Most of the time it is supplied in the lab as ##”formalin”##, an aqueous solution. ##”Paraformaldehyde”##, ##(CH_2O)_3## is a cylic trimer, that can be used as a substitute.