Benzaldehyde, C7H6O, is a fragrant substance responsible for the aroma of almonds. Its Lewis structure is

(a) What is the hybridization at each of the carbon atoms of the molecule?

Key Concepts

Hybridization

Hybridization is the concept in chemistry that describes the mixing of atomic orbitals to form new hybrid orbitals. These hybrid orbitals are used to form covalent bonds in molecules. The type of hybridization depends on the number of electron pairs around the central atom, influencing the geometry and bond angles of the molecule.

Lewis Structure

A Lewis structure is a diagram that represents the bonding between atoms in a molecule and the lone pairs of electrons that may exist. It uses dots to represent valence electrons and lines to represent bonds. Understanding the Lewis structure of a molecule is crucial for determining its hybridization and molecular geometry.

Valence Shell Electron Pair Repulsion (VSEPR) Theory

VSEPR theory is a model used to predict the geometry of individual molecules based on the repulsion between electron pairs in the valence shell of the central atom. According to this theory, electron pairs will arrange themselves as far apart as possible to minimize repulsion, which helps in determining the hybridization and shape of the molecule.