Which hybridization corresponds to a tetrahedral geometry?

• A. sp
• B. sp2
• C. sp3
• D. dsp3

Answer: (C)

Tetrahedral arrangement arises when there are four regions of electron density around the central atom, which is described by sp3 hybridization. In sp3, one s orbital mixes with three p orbitals to form four equivalent sp3 hybrid orbitals that point toward the corners of a tetrahedron, giving bond angles of about 109.5 degrees. A classic example is methane, where the central carbon forms four sigma bonds in a tetrahedral geometry.

The other hybridizations correspond to different numbers of electron domains: sp uses two regions (linear), sp2 uses three regions (trigonal planar with 120° angles), and d-involved hybrids typically accommodate five or six regions (giving trigonal bipyramidal or octahedral geometries), not tetrahedral. So sp3 is the correct description for a tetrahedral arrangement.