What is the best description of the bond between a carbn atom and a hydrogen atom in methane?

Question

a) sp^2-2p

b) sp^2-s

c) sp^3 -s

d) sp-2p

e) sp^3 -2p

the answer is c but why please explain.. will give 5 pts for best answer

Answer 1

6C has the electron configuration 1s2 2s2 2p2. In this form, there are only 2 unpaired e- which would limit the C to forming 2 bonds. If one of the 2s electrons is excited to the 2p level, then there would be 1 electron left in the 2s, and 3 unpaired electrons in the 2p level. This leads to sp3 hybridized orbitals and allows C to form 4 bonds.