All the carbon atoms in benzoic acid, C6H5COOH, are A. tetrahedral B. chiral C. sp2 hybridized D. aromatic

Question

BlackTom AI · Accepted Answer

All carbons in benzoic acid are sp2 hybridized because each carbon forms three sigma bonds (or two sigma + one pi) and has trigonal planar geometry.

Relevant concepts:
- Hybridization: an sp2 carbon has three regions of electron density (three σ bonds or two σ bonds + one lone pair) and one unhybridized p orbital that can form a π bond.
- Aromaticity applies to a conjugated cyclic system (the benzene ring) but does not automatically include substituent atoms outside the ring.
- Chirality requires a carbon bonded to four different substituents (sp3 center).

Step-by-step reasoning and intermediate “counts”:
1. Count carbons: benzoic acid is C6H5COOH — six carbons in the benzene ring + one carboxyl carbon = 7 carbons total.
2. Benzene ring carbons: each ring carbon bonds to two neighboring carbons and one hydrogen (or to the carboxyl substituent at the substituted position). That is three σ bonds per ring carbon and one unhybridized p orbital participating in the aromatic π system → sp2 hybridized (trigonal planar).
3. Carboxyl carbon (the C of COOH attached to the ring): it is double-bonded to one oxygen (C=O gives one σ + one π), σ-bonded to the ring carbon, and σ-bonded to the hydroxyl oxygen. That equals three σ bonds and one π → trigonal planar → sp2 hybridized. Resonance in the carboxyl group also involves p orbitals, consistent with sp2.
4. No carbon is bonded to four different groups, so there are no chiral centers. No carbon has four single bonds (four σ bonds) giving tetrahedral sp3 geometry.

Why the correct answer is C and why others are wrong:
- A (tetrahedral): incorrect because none of the carbons form four σ bonds; geometries are trigonal planar, not tetrahedral.
- B (chiral): incorrect because no carbon has four distinct substituents.
- D (aromatic): incorrect because only the six ring carbons are part of the aromatic system; the carboxyl carbon is not aromatic. The statement asks about all carbons — so “aromatic” is false for the carboxyl carbon.

Thus the correct choice is C (sp2 hybridized), matching the provided answer.

All the carbon atoms in benzoic acid, C6H5COOH, are A. tetrahedral B. chiral C. sp2 hybridized D. aromatic单项选择题

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