An octahedral complex is formed when hybrid orbitals of the following type are involved

Options

A. a. `sp^3`
B. b. `dsp^2`
C. c. `d^2sp^3`
D. d. `sp^3d^2`

Answer

To solve the question regarding the type of hybrid orbitals involved in the formation of an octahedral complex, we will analyze the options based on the principles of Valence Bond Theory (VBT) and the characteristics of octahedral complexes.

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Understanding Octahedral Complexes**:
- Octahedral complexes are formed when a central metal atom is surrounded by six ligands at the corners of an octahedron.

2. **Hybridization in Octahedral Complexes**:
- According to Valence Bond Theory, octahedral complexes can exhibit two types of hybridization based on the involvement of d-orbitals:
- **Inner Orbital Complexes**: These involve the hybridization of the d-orbitals from the inner shell of the metal. The hybridization here is **d²sp³**.
- **Outer Orbital Complexes**: These involve the hybridization of the d-orbitals from the outer shell. The hybridization here is **sp³d²**.

3. **Identifying Ligands**:
- The type of hybridization depends on the nature of the ligands:
- **Strong Field Ligands**: These ligands can cause pairing of electrons in the d-orbitals, leading to the formation of inner orbital complexes (d²sp³).
- **Weak Field Ligands**: These ligands do not cause pairing of electrons and lead to the formation of outer orbital complexes (sp³d²).

4. **Conclusion**:
- Therefore, the hybrid orbitals involved in the formation of octahedral complexes are **d²sp³** for inner orbital complexes and **sp³d²** for outer orbital complexes.

### Final Answer:
The hybrid orbitals involved in the formation of an octahedral complex are **d²sp³** and **sp³d²**.