How to determine the hybridization of C in CH4?

Carbon has the atomic number 6, which also equals the number of electrons. According to the rules determining electronic configuration (Aufbau, Pauli, and Hund), these electrons are arranged in the 1s, 2s, and 2p subshells of the Carbon atom to give the complete electronic configuration - 1s² 2s² 2p². This electronic configuration of Carbon, where the electrons are in their lowest energy states and closest to the nucleus, is called the ground state electronic configuration.

What is a Bond Angle? How are bond angles formed?

The bond angle is the angle at which two adjacent bonds converge and meet at the central atom in molecules.

For example, the angle between H-C-H in the CH₄ molecule is the bond angle, and C is the central atom. Similarly, the H-O-H is the bond angle in water, with Oxygen being the central atom.

Bond Order for Covalent Bonds

The very premise of a covalent bond is electron sharing. As two atoms share one electron each to form one covalent bond, they may likely share more than once and form more bonds. This information on the number of connections between two atoms is revealed from the Bond Order.

So, the Bond Order measures the number of bonds between the two atoms in a molecule. The number can be integers like 1, 2, or 3 for single, double, or triple bonds or non-integers like 0.5, 1.3, 1.5, etc.

Which factors affect the bond length? (In brief)

Bond lengths are smaller when atoms form multiple bonds. Single overlap between two atoms forms a single covalent bond. So, when they overlap twice and thrice to form double and triple bonds the atoms to come closer to form a tight-knit. Such bonds are even harder to break. So, the bond length of a triple is smaller than a double and single bond.

What is a Bond length ?

An easy way to identify organic compounds is to look for several atoms in a long chain. These long chains are covalent bonds. So, the length of the bond and the factors affecting it becomes very important.

Such a bond formation occurs only when the atoms that want to form covalent bonds have the right concentration, orientation, and speed.

How does a covalent bond break?

Did you know that, back in the 1900s, it was believed that a hook and a loop type of closure was the covalent bond responsible for holding atoms in a molecule? Interesting, right?

Difference between Reactant, Reagent, and Catalyst

	Reactant	Reagent	Catalyst
Definition	A substance that participates and undergoes a structural change in a chemical reaction is a reactant.

Differences between the Condensed Structural and the Molecular Formula

Condensed Formula

Molecular Formula

Definition

The condensed formula is a shorthand representation of a molecule that gives information on the atoms, their number, and how they are connected in a single line.

Differences between Valence Bond (VB) and Valence Shell Electron Pair Repulsion (VSEPR) Theory

Valence Bond (VB) Theory	Valence Shell Electron Pair Repulsion (VSEPR) Theory
Valence Bond Theory explains how atoms combine to form di and polyatomic molecules held by covalent bonds.

How does an atom become negatively charged?

One basic thing to know about an atom is that it is made of three main components- protons, neutrons, and electrons.

The charge for an atom can come from two sources: positively charged protons in its nucleus and negatively charged electrons outside the nucleus. So, the atom is considered neutral when there is a balance between the positively charged protons and negatively charged electrons. Like, how a sum of +1 and -1 charge gives a zero.