What is the hybridization of the central atom in the periodate (IO4-) anion And why
The central atom in the periodate (IO4-) anion is iodine (I).
To determine the hybridization of the central atom, we need to look at the number of electron groups around the central atom. In the case of periodate, iodine is bonded to four oxygen atoms and has one lone pair of electrons.
The electron geometry of periodate is tetrahedral because there are four bonding groups and one lone pair.
However, the presence of a lone pair affects the molecular geometry. The lone pair can exert more repulsion compared to the bonding pairs, resulting in a distorted geometry. In this case, the molecular geometry is called a seesaw, and it is a distorted version of tetrahedral.
The hybridization of iodine in periodate is therefore sp3d, which combines three hybrid orbitals from the 3s, 3p, and 3d orbitals to form the five orbitals needed for the five electron groups around the central atom.
Overall, the hybridization of the central iodine atom in the periodate (IO4-) anion is sp3d.