How many hybridized carbon atoms are present in the structure of the benzyne intermediate ()? — Reaction Mechanism Chemistry Question

💡 Solution & Explanation

All six carbon atoms in the benzyne ring remain $sp^2$ hybridized. The formal "triple bond" is composed of a standard $\pi$ -bond from $p$ -orbital overlap and a weak abnormal $\pi$ -bond from the sideways overlap of two $sp^2$ hybrid orbitals.