Pictorial Representations of Bonding Concepts

Let us apply this pictorial representation of bonding to one of the fundamental concepts in organic chemistry—the bonding of methane. We usually begin with the atomic orbitals of the carbon atom and then consider 

Once a model is fixed in our minds, we find it almost impossible to discard or ignore it unless another model is available to take its place. Instead, models are almost always modified to fit new data—and that is what we do here. We use the concept of hybridization to change our mental picture of the atomic orbitals of carbon to a more useful one. The procedure was described by Pauling and has been discussed by a number of authors.  

Matteson, D. S. Organometallic Reaction Mechanisms of the Nontransition Elements-, Academic Press New York, 1974 p. 5. 

Strictly speaking, there are hybridized orbitals but not hybridized atoms. However, organic chemists frequently use the term sp -hybridized carbon to refer to a carbon atom with sp hybrid orbitals. 

See the discussion in Hameka, H. F. Quantum Theory of the Chemical Bond Hafner Press New York, 1975 p. 216 ff. 

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