Answers and Explanations to Problems - Arrow Pushing in Organic Chemistry - page 226

in a tetrahedral geometry. Please note that the molecular structure is referred to as
bent at the oxygen atom.
For this compound, the CH 2 carbon is bound to the central carbon through a double
bond. Furthermore, this carbon atom is bound to two hydrogen atoms. Because this
carbon atom is bound to only three atoms, it is sp 2 hybridized. However, the central
carbon atom, being bound to the CH 2 carbon atom through a double bond, is bound
to an oxygen atom through a double bond. Thus, the central carbon atom is bound
to only two atoms and is sp hybridized. Finally, the oxygen atom is bound to the
central atom through a double bond. Additionally, the oxygen atom possesses
two lone electron pairs. Because the oxygen atom is bound to only one atom and
possesses two lone electron pairs, it is sp 2 hybridized. Regarding geometry, the
CH 2 carbon, being bound to three atoms, is trigonal planar. Furthermore, the
central carbon, being bound to two atoms, is linear. Lastly, the oxygen atom,
being bound to only one atom and possessing two lone electron pairs, is trigonal
planar.
For this compound, the positively charged CH carbon is bound to a vinyl carbon, a
methyl carbon, and a hydrogen through single bonds. Because this carbon atom is
bound to only three atoms, it is sp 2 hybridized. Additionally, the vinyl carbon atom
is bound to the positively charged carbon atom, a hydrogen and a second vinyl
carbon. Because the two vinyl carbon atoms are joined by a double bond, there can
be no more than three atoms bound to the highlighted vinyl carbon. Therefore,
because the vinyl carbon is bound to three separate atoms, this carbon is sp 2 hybri-
dized. Based on the atomic hybridizations, the positively charged carbon is connected