What is the molecular structure and hybridization of toluene?
Your question asks about “molecular structure” but your details discuss the geometries of the atoms WITHIN the molecule , both of which are different. I’m a little confused about what you actually want to know so I’ll explain both as best as I can. Molecular structure implies the shape of the entire molecule with all its atoms combined. When we talk about geometry (trigonal planar, tetrahedral, trigonal bipyramidal etc), we are looking at the hydridization of specific atoms WITHIN a molecule to see what their geometry might be. The specific geometries of the atoms contribute to the overall geometry of the molecule. You are correct in that the 6 carbons of the benzene ring of toluene are sp2 hybridized – therefore, each of those 6 carbon’s geometry is trigonal planar. This makes the benzene ring a flat, planar molecule. The methyl group on the other hand, has all single bonds attached to the central carbon atom (3 single bonds go to the hydrogens, and 1 single bond attaches the methyl g
