Answer
(a) Number of $sp^{3}$ carbons: Ibuprofen = 12, Naproxen = 13, Acetaminophen = 7
(b) Number of $sp^{2}$ carbons: Ibuprofen = 1, Naproxen = 1, Acetaminophen = 1
(c) all three molecules possess just one single $sp^{2}$ hybridized carbon atom. As for ibuprofen and naproxen, this carbon atom belongs to a carboxylic acid. But in acetaminophen this specific carbon atom is part of a ketone.
Work Step by Step
- To determine the hybridization of an atom, simply count the number of attached atoms plus lone pairs that are part of any atom next to the hybridized atom. You can apply the following formulas for this exercise:
x(Attached atoms) + y(lone pairs) = 3 → $sp^{2}$
x(Attached atoms) + y(lone pairs) = 4 → $sp^{3}$
- As for as the similarities between the three molecules, they all possess acidic properties marked by the $sp^{2}$ hybridized carbon atom. However, the carboxylic group in ibuprofen and naproxen is more acidic than the $C-CH_{3}$ functional group of acetaminophen.
