Microchem
Microscale Chemistry Experimentation for Teachers



22. C2H6 orbital model (sp3 hybridization)
Two methane molecules are modelled by using black and white beads for C and H atoms and golden and white microbeads for bonding pairs of electrons. The two models are placed top-to-top like the blue paper tetrahydra are.
In each of the two methane molecules the tetrahedral set of four sp3 orbitals of the carbon atom are used to  bond to the H atoms to form four equivalent C-H bonds.
 

One ethane molecule is modelled by using 2 black and 6 white beads for the 2 C and 6 H atoms.  Micobeads of different colours are models of bonding pairs of electrons:
Only three of four sp3 hybrid orbitals of each carbon atom are used to bond to three H atoms to form three equivalent C-H bonds. The fourth sp3 orbital of each C atom is used to form a C-C bond.

............... C2H4 orbital model (sp2 hybridisation)

Copyright: M.K.El-Marsafy  / P.Schwarz                  
last modification:  16.06.2001  back