Understanding Bent’s Rule: A Key Concept in Hybridization and Bonding
Bent’s Rule is a fundamental principle in chemistry that helps explain the hybridization of atomic orbitals and how electronegativity influences bond angles. It provides insight into molecular geometry and is widely used in organic and inorganic chemistry to predict molecular shapes and reactivity. In this blog post, we will explore Bent’s Rule, its significance, and its applications in chemical bonding. What is Bent’s Rule? Bent’s Rule states that "atomic s-character concentrates in orbitals directed toward electropositive substituents." In simpler terms, this means that in a molecule, orbitals with more p-character will be directed toward more electronegative atoms , while orbitals with more s-character will be directed toward less electronegative or more electropositive atoms . This principle helps explain deviations in bond angles and hybridization that cannot be solely understood through the traditional valence bond theory. Why Does Bent’s Rule Matter? Hybridizati...
