Given the molecule CH3CH2NH2, what is the hybridization state of the nitrogen atom (indicated in red)?

• A. sp3
• B. sp2
• C. sp
• D. sp3d

Answer: (A)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Identify the atom of interest, which is the nitrogen (N) atom in the molecule CH3CH2NH2.
2. Determine the number of regions of electron density (bonding and lone pairs) around the nitrogen atom. Nitrogen in this molecule is bonded to two hydrogen atoms and one carbon atom, and it also has one lone pair of electrons.
3. Count the total number of electron regions around nitrogen: 3 bonds + 1 lone pair = 4 regions of electron density.
4. Recall that the hybridization corresponds to the number of electron regions: 4 regions correspond to sp\3 hybridization.
5. Conclude that the nitrogen atom in CH3CH2NH2 is sp\3 hybridized because it has four regions of electron density (three sigma bonds and one lone pair).