SP Hybrid Atomic Orbitals

• The central atom is bonded to two and only two atoms.
• The electron states of the central atom have half 2s and half 2p character.
• Three atoms generally form a straight line.

Common SP (linear) Atoms

• Beryllium hydride (BeH2)   
• Beryllium fluoride (BeF2) 
• Carbon dioxide (CO2) 
• Hydrogen cyanide (HCN) 
• Acetylene (HCCH) 

SP2 Hybrid Atomic Orbitals

• Combination of two 2p orbitals with one 2s orbital gives three SP2 hybridized orbitals.
• These three orbitals generally lie in a plane.
• An orbital may be filled with a single/double bond, or a single/paired electron.

Common SP2 (trigonal planar) atoms

• Borane (BH3) 
• Boron trifluoride (BF3) 
• Formaldehyde (CH2O) 
• Ketones (>C=O) 
• Aldehydes (RCOH) 
• Alkenes (>C=C<) 
• Carbonate ion (CO32-) 
• Benzene (C6H6) 
• Graphite 
• Fullerenes 
• Nitrogen dioxide 
• Ozone (O3-)
• Sulfur dioxide (:SO2)
• Sulfur trioxide (SO3)

SP3 Hybrid Atomic Orbitals

• Combination of one s and three p orbitals, yielding four SP3 hybridized orbitals.
• Generally has shape of a tetrahedron.
• Often one or two orbital locations are filled with electron pairs (as in water).

Common SP3 (tetrahedral) atoms

• Methane (CH4)  
• Tetrafluoromethane (Carbon tetrafluoride) (CF4) 
• Tetrachloromethane (Carbon tetrachloride) (CCl4) 
• Chloromethane (Methyl chloride) (CH3Cl)
• Ammonium ion (NH4+) 
• Ammonia (:NH3) 
• Phosphorous tetrafluoride (:PF3) 
• Thionyl fluoride (:SOF2) 
• Water (H2O) (::OH2) 
• Sulfur difluoride (SF2)