Question

Consider the structure of the amino acid aspartic acid. Indicate the hybridization about each interior atom.

Answer 1

Hybridization is the combination of atomic orbitals to form hybrid orbitals. Hybrid orbitals have different shapes and energies when compared to atomic orbitals. In the given structure, carbon, oxygen, nitrogen and hydrogen atoms are present. The interior atoms are carbon, oxygen and nitrogen.

In hybridization, one s and three p orbitals overlap to form 4 hybrid orbitals. In hybridization, one s and two p orbitals overlap to form 3 hybrid orbitals.

The carbon atoms (1 and 4) in the structure of aspartic acid are doubly bonded to the oxygen atoms. Hence, they show hybridization. The other carbon atoms (2 and 3) show hybridization as they are bonded to four different atoms.

The oxygen atoms with single bonds show hybridization as they are bonded to two atoms and have two lone pairs in two of the hybrid orbitals

The nitrogen atom also shows hybridization as it bonds with three other atoms and has a lone pair of electrons occupying one of the hybrid orbitals.

The hybridizations are indicated on the structure in green as follows: