The oxygen atoms in O2 participate in multiple bonding, whereas those in hydrogen peroxide, H2O2, do not. What is the hybridization of the oxygen atoms in each molecule? What is the hybridization of the oxygen atoms in O2? What is the hybridization of the oxygen atoms in H2O2?

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the concept of hybridization, which involves the mixing of atomic orbitals to form new hybrid orbitals suitable for the pairing of electrons to form chemical bonds.
2. Step 2: Analyze the molecular structure of O2. Oxygen in O2 forms a double bond, which involves one sigma (σ) bond and one pi (π) bond. The hybridization of oxygen in O2 is determined by the sigma bond.
3. Step 3: Determine the hybridization of oxygen in O2. Since the oxygen atom forms one sigma bond and has two lone pairs, it uses sp2 hybridization, which involves one s orbital and two p orbitals.
4. Step 4: Examine the molecular structure of H2O2. Each oxygen atom in H2O2 forms two sigma bonds (one with hydrogen and one with the other oxygen) and has two lone pairs.
5. Step 5: Determine the hybridization of oxygen in H2O2. The oxygen atoms in H2O2 use sp3 hybridization, which involves one s orbital and three p orbitals, to accommodate the two sigma bonds and two lone pairs.