The excited carbon atom allows its one s-orbital (2s) and three p-orbitals (2px, 2py, 2pz) to intermix and reshuffle into four identical orbitals known as sp3 orbitals. Thus, carbon atom undergoes sp3 hybridization. The four electrons enter the new four identical hybrid orbitals known as sp3 hybrid orbitals, one each as per Hu nd’s rule.
1) Since carbon has four unpaired electrons, it is capable of forming bonds with four other atoms.
2) When carbon reacts with hydrogen, four hydrogen atoms allow their ‘s’ orbitals containing one electron each to overlap with four sp3 orbitals of carbon atom which are oriented at an angle of 109°. 28’.
3) Four orbitals of an atom in the outer shell orient along the four corners of a tetrahedron to have minimum repulsion between their electrons. ‘The nucleus of the atom is at the centre of the tetrahedron.
4) This leads to form four sp3 – s sigma bonds between carbon atom and four hydrogen atoms, All these bonds are of equal energy,
