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why is the hybridization of methyl free radical sp2 and of trifluoro methyl free radical sp3

juliet miranda , 11 Years ago

Grade 12th pass

2 Answers

Aarti Gupta

Alkyl free radicals are either planar or pyramidal in structure.Spectroscopic evidences shows that methyl free radical(.CH3) is planar in shape ,thus it is conveniently described by sp² hybridisation with the unpaired electron located primarily in p-orbital.
But in case of substituted radicals like trifluoro methyl free radical increasing fluorine substitution causes the radical to go from planar sp2 hybridisation ( as in .CH3) to tetrahedral, sp³hybridisation in (.CF3 )radical.

Last Activity: 11 Years ago

Saif Shaikh

in methyl free radical the hybridization is sp2 because it has 3 bond pairs and one unpaired electron which is very reactive so in hybridization it is not included and 3 bond pairs are present so one goes with s and other 2 with p. In trifluro methyl radical hybridization is sp3 because F is present which is very electronegative element so it attracts an unpaired electron towards itself and add it in hybridization due to which hybridization get shift from sp2 to sp3.

Last Activity: 8 Years ago