[xstrae]

Hi,

1. What is the hybridisation of the central atom in PtCl^2-₄?Not sure of this one.

2. By hybridisation of which atomic orbitals is a square planar complex formed?
I know that a square planar geometry indicates a sp3d2 hybridisation of the central atom with two lone pairs. So is the anser 1 s orbital, 3 p orbitals and 2 d orbitals?

[Albert]

1. What is the hybridisation of the central atom in PtCl^2-₄?Not sure of this one.

I think it's sp²d

2. By hybridisation of which atomic orbitals is a square planar complex formed?
I know that a square planar geometry indicates a sp3d2 hybridisation of the central atom with two lone pairs. So is the anser 1 s orbital, 3 p orbitals and 2 d orbitals?

s + p_x + p_y + p_z + d_x²-y² + d_z²

[xstrae]

I did a little more searching. This website differs from your answer: http://www.intute.ac.uk/sciences/reference/plambeck/chem1/p02201.htm
It says d_xy,s,p_x and p_y.  are you sure its correct?

[Albert]

Which answer? Because, in the former, you asked for the hybridization of the central atom only.
For what concerns the latter (d2sp3, which represents an octahedron), the website agrees with me, doesn't it?

[xstrae]

oh allright I just got a bit confused. what you said is right.

hybridization of one s, two p, and one d orbital on a central metal atom gives rise to four hybrid dsp2 orbitals. They are square planar in alignment because the orbitals used are all in the xy plane. in d2sp3 hybridisation, the orbitals which contribute to the square planar geometry of the equatorial plane of the octahedron are the s, px, py, and dxy atomic orbitals. is my understanding correct?

thanks

[Yggdrasil]

oh allright I just got a bit confused. what you said is right.

hybridization of one s, two p, and one d orbital on a central metal atom gives rise to four hybrid dsp2 orbitals. They are square planar in alignment because the orbitals used are all in the xy plane. in d2sp3 hybridisation, the orbitals which contribute to the square planar geometry of the equatorial plane of the octahedron are the s, px, py, and dxy atomic orbitals. is my understanding correct?

thanks

Correct.