Illustrated Glossary of Organic Chemistry

Hybrid orbital: An atomic orbital formed by mathematical combination of s and p (and sometimes d or f) atomic orbitals. Hybrid orbitals are used when nonhybridized orbitals cannot account for molecular geometry. Every carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, and halogen atom in organic molecules are hybridized; exceptions are rare.

sp3 hybrid orbitals		sp2 hybrid orbitals		sp hybrid orbitals
		Viewed from above the x-y plane Nonhybridized orbitals not shown		Viewed from above the x-y plane Nonhybridized orbitals not shown