Which type of hybridization corresponds to a tetrahedral molecular geometry?

Tetrahedral molecular geometry is associated with sp³ hybridization because this hybridization involves the mixing of one s orbital and three p orbitals from the same atom. When an atom undergoes sp³ hybridization, it produces four equivalent hybrid orbitals that are arranged in a tetrahedral shape, with bond angles of approximately 109.5 degrees.

In a tetrahedral arrangement, four areas of electron density (such as bond pairs) are positioned as far apart as possible to minimize electron-electron repulsion, resulting in this specific geometric configuration. This can be clearly observed in molecules like methane (CH₄), where the central carbon atom is sp³ hybridized, forming four equivalent C-H bonds in a tetrahedral shape.

The other types of hybridization mentioned do not produce tetrahedral molecular shapes. For instance, sp² hybridization leads to trigonal planar geometry with bond angles of about 120 degrees, while sp hybridization results in a linear arrangement with bond angles of 180 degrees. Lastly, sp³d hybridization enables the formation of trigonal bipyramidal geometries, associated with five bonds or electron pairs. Thus, sp³ hybridization is indeed the correct correspondence for tetrahedral geometry.