Hydrocarbons consist of only carbon and hydrogen atoms, and all carbons have sp3 hybridization.

[ImDiene0412]

This is what the Berkeley Review says in the Lipids chapter of Organic Chem... just wanted to double check that "all of the carbons are sp3 hybridized" is correct, I don't remember hearing this before... could they be referring specifically to alkanes?

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[aldol16]

If they say that all of the carbons in hydrocarbons are sp3 hybridized, then they are incorrect. In a strict definition of hydrocarbons as those compounds containing only carbon and hydrogen, there can exist multiple forms of hybridization on carbon. That is, hydrocarbons can further be split into saturated and unsaturated hydrocarbons. In saturated hydrocarbons, all carbons are sp3 hybridized. In unsaturated hydrocarbons, the carbons at the site(s) of unsaturation can be sp2 or even sp hybridized. An example of sp2 hybridization on a hydrocarbon would be simple ethylene. An example of sp hybridization on a hydrocarbon would be acetylene.

 

[ImDiene0412]

If they say that all of the carbons in hydrocarbons are sp3 hybridized, then they are incorrect. In a strict definition of hydrocarbons as those compounds containing only carbon and hydrogen, there can exist multiple forms of hybridization on carbon. That is, hydrocarbons can further be split into saturated and unsaturated hydrocarbons. In saturated hydrocarbons, all carbons are sp3 hybridized. In unsaturated hydrocarbons, the carbons at the site(s) of unsaturation can be sp2 or even sp hybridized. An example of sp2 hybridization on a hydrocarbon would be simple ethylene. An example of sp hybridization on a hydrocarbon would be acetylene.

Very helpful, thank you!