Atoms, Electrons, and Orbitals

Atoms consist of a nucleus surrounded by electrons that occupy orbitals, which are regions of space where electrons are likely to be found. In organic chemistry, hybridization is a key concept explaining how atomic orbitals mix to form new hybrid orbitals, allowing atoms like carbon to form stable covalent bonds with specific geometries, such as sp3 hybridization in methane, which results in a tetrahedral shape. Valence electrons, which are the outermost electrons, play a crucial role in bonding, and their arrangement can be understood through valence bond theory, which describes how these electrons overlap to form sigma (σ) and pi (π) bonds. Understanding hybridization and valence is essential for predicting the structure and reactivity of organic molecules, as it influences molecular geometry and the nature of chemical bonds