Which of the following compounds has a dsp^3 hybrid orbital?

• A. SF_6
• B. NH_3
• C. PF_5
• D. CO_2

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Recall that dsp^3 hybridization occurs when one d orbital, one s orbital, and three p orbitals mix to form five equivalent hybrid orbitals. This type of hybridization is typically associated with trigonal bipyramidal molecular geometry.
2. Analyze each compound's central atom and its bonding environment to determine the hybridization:
3. For SF_6, sulfur is bonded to six fluorine atoms, which corresponds to an octahedral geometry and requires sp^3d^2 hybridization, not dsp^3.
4. For NH_3, nitrogen is bonded to three hydrogen atoms with one lone pair, resulting in a tetrahedral electron geometry and sp^3 hybridization, not dsp^3.
5. For PF_5, phosphorus is bonded to five fluorine atoms, which corresponds to a trigonal bipyramidal geometry and dsp^3 hybridization.
6. For CO_2, carbon is bonded to two oxygen atoms with double bonds, resulting in a linear geometry and sp hybridization, not dsp^3.