What is the approximate hybridization state of the nitrogen atom in trimethylamine,(CH₃)₃N? A)sp B)sp² C)sp³ D)p³ E)d²sp³

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The nitrogen atom in trimethylamine has three methyl groups bonded to it, therefore it has three sigma bonds in its valence shell. To accommodate these bonds, the nitrogen must hybridize its atomic orbitals. The three sigma bonds suggest that nitrogen undergoes sp3 hybridization, which implies that nitrogen uses one s and three p orbitals to form four hybrid orbitals. However, there is also a lone pair of electrons in the nitrogen atom, which occupies one of the hybrid orbitals. Therefore, the hybridization state of nitrogen in trimethylamine is sp3, which is option C.

What Is the Approximate Hybridization State of the Nitrogen Atom