434 | Chapter 9 | Molecular Geometry and Bonding Theories

sp3d 2 hybrid orbitals six equivalent Octahedral and Trigonal Bipyramidal Geometry:
orbitals that point toward the vertices of an sp3d 2 and sp3d Hybrid Orbitals
octahedron form from mixing one s orbital,
three p orbitals, and two d orbitals from the
same shell.

F
3d 3d 3d F
Promote Hybridize
S
3p 3p sp d
3 2 F
F

3s 3s F
Sulfur atom sp3d 2 hybridized S

(a) SF6

Cl

Cl
3d 3d 3d
Promote Hybridize Cl P

3p 3p sp3d
Cl

Cl
3s 3s
Phosphorus atom sp3d hybridized P
(b) PCl5

FIGURE 9.31 Hybrid orbitals can be generated by combining d orbitals with s and p orbitals in
atoms that expand their octet. (a) One 3s, three 3p, and two 3d orbitals mix on the central sulfur
atom in SF6 to form six sp3d 2 hybrid orbitals. (b) One 3s orbital, three 3p orbitals, and one 3d
orbital mix on the central phosphorus atom in PCl5 to form five sp3d hybrid orbitals. For simplicity,
only the chlorine and fluorine orbitals that overlap with the hybrid orbitals are shown.