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why is the hybridization of methyl free radical sp2 and of trifluoro methyl free radical sp3

juliet miranda , 10 Years ago

Grade 12th pass

2 Answers

Aarti Gupta

Last Activity: 10 Years ago

Alkyl free radicals are either planar or pyramidal in structure.Spectroscopic evidences shows that methyl free radical(.CH3) is planar in shape ,thus it is conveniently described by sp² hybridisation with the unpaired electron located primarily in p-orbital.
But in case of substituted radicals like trifluoro methyl free radical increasing fluorine substitution causes the radical to go from planar sp2 hybridisation ( as in .CH3) to tetrahedral, sp³hybridisation in (.CF3 )radical.

Saif Shaikh

Last Activity: 7 Years ago

in methyl free radical the hybridization is sp2 because it has 3 bond pairs and one unpaired electron which is very reactive so in hybridization it is not included and 3 bond pairs are present so one goes with s and other 2 with p. In trifluro methyl radical hybridization is sp3 because F is present which is very electronegative element so it attracts an unpaired electron towards itself and add it in hybridization due to which hybridization get shift from sp2 to sp3.