AP Chemistry Exam Prep

Answer: CCl₄

Hybridization involves the combination of multiple orbitals to form several new, equal-energy orbitals. The hybridization around a particular atom in a molecule is the number of substituents plus the number of lone pairs of electrons on that atom. However, hybridization is not expressed as a number, but rather with the “s, p, d” system. sp³ hybridization indicates that there are four substituents or lone pairs. In the context of the question, the only molecule that fits this description is CCl₄.