Have you ever wondered how atoms bond together to form different shapes and molecules? That’s where hybridisation comes in. It’s a concept in chemistry that helps us understand how atomic orbitals mix to form new orbitals for bonding. Hybridisation makes it easier to explain the structure, shape and bonding in molecules like methane, ethene, and acetylene. If you’re preparing for exams like NEET or JEE, knowing the basics of hybridisation will help you solve many bonding and structure related questions easily.

What is Acetylene?

Acetylene is a simple hydrocarbon with the formula C2H2. It has two carbon atoms, triple bonded to each other and one hydrogen atom attached to each carbon. It’s a colourless gas used in welding and as a building block in organic chemistry. Understanding its structure helps in learning about sp hybridisation.

In acetylene (C2H2), each carbon atom forms two bonds one with hydrogen and one with another carbon. To do this, the carbon atoms use sp hybridization. This means one s orbital and one p orbital mix to form two sp hybrid orbitals, which arrange in a straight line. The remaining two p orbitals on each carbon stay unhybridised and help form the two π bonds of the triple bond. This type of bonding gives acetylene its linear shape and strong C≡C triple bond.

Step by Step Explanation of sp Hybridisation in Acetylene

Each carbon atom in acetylene has the electron configuration 1s2 2s2 2p2. To form bonds, one 2s orbital and one 2p orbital combine to form two sp hybrid orbitals.

• One sp orbital forms a sigma bond with hydrogen
• The other forms a sigma bond between the two carbon atoms
• The remaining two unhybridised p orbitals on each carbon overlap sideways to form two π bonds, completing the C≡C triple bond

Molecular Geometry of Acetylene

Because the carbon atoms are sp hybridised, the molecule takes a linear shape.

• The bond angle between H–C≡C–H is 180°.
• All atoms lie in a straight line, which is a key feature of sp hybridisation

Comparison with other Hydrocarbons

Importance of Hydrocarbons

• Helps understand how atoms from bonds
• Explains the shape of molecules 
• Tells whether a bond is single, double or triple
• Helps identify bond angles in molecule
• Useful for predicting how reactive a molecule is

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