P Character of HCN

[SyrianHero]

There is a question asking about the p character of the bonds formed by the carbon atom in HCN, and the answer is 50% since the carbon orbitals are sp hybridized, but don't the 2 non hybridized p orbitals account for any additional p characteristic?

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[theonlytycrane]

The two hybridized orbitals used to form bonds are two sp orbitals with 50% s and 50% p character. The remaining two p orbitals may contribute to p character, but they are not involved in the same bond formation as in the hybridized case.