Question

Select the correct hybridization for the central atom based on the electron geometry cocl2 (carbon is the central atom).

Answer 1

In this compound (Phosgene) the central atom (carbon is Sp² Hybridized).

Sp, Sp² and Sp³ can be calculated very simply by doing three steps, 

Step 1:
           Assume triple bond and double bond as one bond and assign s or p to it. In this example carbon double bond oxygen is considered once and let suppose it is s. Now we are having our s.

Step 2:
          Count lone pair of electron, each lone pair counts for s and p. In this case there is no lone pair of electron on carbon, so not included.

Step 3:
          Count single bonds for s and p. As we have already assigned s to the double bond, now one p for one single bond, and other p for the other single bond.

Result:
          So, we counted 1 s for double bond, 1 p for one single and other p for second single bond. As a whole we got,

                                                       Sp²

Practice:
You can practice for hybridization of Oxygen in this molecule. Oxygen has 2 lone pair of electrons. (Hint: Sp² Hybridization)