What do lone pairs do to hybridization?

[chiddler]

I'm looking at water, where oxygen has two lone pairs.

1. How do lone pairs affect hybridization? Two oxygens are bound which would make it SP. But the additional lone pairs, if they are considered to contribute to hybridization, make it SP3.

2. If they do affect hybridization, why?

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[AdrianVeidt]

H-O-H

1. H2O only has 1 oxygen atom; 2 lone pairs + 2 bonded atoms = sp3 hybridization on the central atom.
2. Lone pairs are electron groups which counts towards hybridization.

Lone pairs count as one electron group towards total hybridization. Oxygen has two lone pairs. Along with the two bonded atoms, the hydrogen's, the central atom has a total of four electron groups, giving the central atom an sp3 hybridization.

 

[chiddler]

H-O-H

1. H2O only has 1 oxygen atom; 2 lone pairs + 2 bonded atoms = sp3 hybridization on the central atom.
2. Lone pairs are electron groups which counts towards hybridization.

Lone pairs count as one electron group towards total hybridization. Oxygen has two lone pairs. Along with the two bonded atoms, the hydrogen's, the central atom has a total of four electron groups, giving the central atom an sp3 hybridization.

thanks

 

[MedPR]

I'm looking at water, where oxygen has two lone pairs.

1. How do lone pairs affect hybridization? Two oxygens are bound which would make it SP. But the additional lone pairs, if they are considered to contribute to hybridization, make it SP3.

2. If they do affect hybridization, why?

Haven't you already been accepted? Why are you retaking the MCAT?