Structural formulas show how atoms are linked to one another in a formula. For example, for CO2 the structural formula is O=C=O. For NH3 it is
H-N-H
|
H
It is difficult to show structural formulas here. Here are some more in the in the web page below:
http://www.cartage.org.lb/en/themes/sciences/chemistry/Organicchemistry/StructuralFormulas/StructuralFormulas.htm
what are structural formulas??
also is this correct
hybridization is the setting aside of p orbitals in order to form bonds (pi bonds)
4 answers
Structural formulas show the connectivity of atoms. For example, CH4 would look like this.
  H
  |
H-C-H
  |
  H
Hope that looks ok. If not I'll try to find a better drawing on the Internet.
Hybridization is not what you have tried to define. Hybridization is the merging of orbitals to make "hybrids" of them. For example, C has 6 electrons
1s2 2s2 2p2. The four outside electrons are the bonding elecrtrons.
What happens for most compounds of carbon is NOT that it forms bonds with the two 2p orbitals nor even with the third 2p orbital. What happens is that one of the two 2s electrons is promoted to the 2p so it looks like this.
1s2 2s1 2p3. (Actually, we never see that but I'm trying to do it step wise to help with the explanation). So we now have a half filled 2s orbital and three half filled 2p orbitals. Next, the half filled orbitals merge together to form sp hybrid orbitals. The sp orbitals are made up of about 25% s and 75% p and they are all of the same energy. Thus we have 4 sp orbitals and those form (usually) four bonds with carbon. We don't have s bonds and p bonds but sp bonds.
  H
  |
H-C-H
  |
  H
Hope that looks ok. If not I'll try to find a better drawing on the Internet.
Hybridization is not what you have tried to define. Hybridization is the merging of orbitals to make "hybrids" of them. For example, C has 6 electrons
1s2 2s2 2p2. The four outside electrons are the bonding elecrtrons.
What happens for most compounds of carbon is NOT that it forms bonds with the two 2p orbitals nor even with the third 2p orbital. What happens is that one of the two 2s electrons is promoted to the 2p so it looks like this.
1s2 2s1 2p3. (Actually, we never see that but I'm trying to do it step wise to help with the explanation). So we now have a half filled 2s orbital and three half filled 2p orbitals. Next, the half filled orbitals merge together to form sp hybrid orbitals. The sp orbitals are made up of about 25% s and 75% p and they are all of the same energy. Thus we have 4 sp orbitals and those form (usually) four bonds with carbon. We don't have s bonds and p bonds but sp bonds.
My attempt to draw the structural formula for NH3 did not work out. The downward -H bond should be linked to N (nitrogen).
Last try at this.
    H
    |
H-N:
    |
    H
    H
    |
H-C-H
    |
    H
    H
    |
H-N:
    |
    H
    H
    |
H-C-H
    |
    H
1 answer