N,N-diethyl-m-tolumide (DEET)is the active ingredient in many mosquito repellents.What is the hybridization state of carbon indicated by the arrow in the structure of DEET shown below?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The carbon indicated by the arrow is attached to two single-bonded ethyl groups and a double bond, requiring it to have a trigonal planar geometry. This geometry corresponds to sp2 hybridization, which is indicated by the presence of one double bond and three single bonds around carbon; therefore, the correct choice is C, which corresponds to sp³.

N,N-Diethyl-M-Tolumide (DEET)is the Active Ingredient in Many Mosquito Repellents