What is meant by hybridisation? Compound CH2 = C =CH2 contains sp or sp2.Will it be a planar molecule?


Hybridisation is mixing of atomic orbitals to form new hybrid orbitals. The new orbital have the same total electron capacity as the old ones. The properties and energies of the new hybridised orbitals are an average of the unhybridised orbitals.
C1H23σ=C2σ2=C3H23σ
Hybridisation can be found by counting number of σ- bonds around the carbon atom.
3σ=sp2-hybridisation
2σ=sp-hybridisation
In allene, carbon atoms 1 and 3 are sp2-hybridised as each one of them is joined by a double bond. And, carbon atom 2 is sp-hybridised as it has two double bonds at each of its side. Therefore, the two π-bonds are perpendicular to each other, in allene, as shown below.
Ha and Hb lie in the plane of paper while Hc and Hd lie in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the paper. Hence, the allene molecule as a whole is non-planar.