Shortest Carbonyl Bond

[pm1]

---

Members do not see this ad.

Why is a Carbon Dioxide carbonyl bond shorter than an aldehyde carbonyl bond?

The explanation says it is because the CO2 is composed of an sp-hybridized carbon and an oxygen which is shorter than the sp2 hybridized orbital of the aldehyde.

Why is a sp orbital shorter than sp2?

It seems simple but I am not being able to see it.. 🙁

Thank you!!

 

[monkeyvokes]

Why is a Carbon Dioxide carbonyl bond shorter than an aldehyde carbonyl bond?

The explanation says it is because the CO2 is composed of an sp-hybridized carbon and an oxygen which is shorter than the sp2 hybridized orbital of the aldehyde.

Why is a sp orbital shorter than sp2?

It seems simple but I am not being able to see it.. 🙁

Thank you!!

sp hybrid orbitals have the greatest percentage of s (50%). Basically, the electrons are confined to a smaller area.

 

[pm1]

sp hybrid orbitals have the greatest percentage of s (50%). Basically, the electrons are confined to a smaller area.

so the more s character a bond has, the smaller it is?

thank you!

 

[monkeyvokes]

so the more s character a bond has, the smaller it is?

thank you!

I believe so

 

[IcemanMD]

Another way to think about this is that the s orbitals are closer to the nucleus than the p orbitals (think about Hunds rule).

More s character-->electrons are closer to the nucleus-->shorter bond