ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Isovalent hybridization

Alright kiddo, so we've talked about hybridization before, right? When atoms mix their orbitals to make new ones?

Well, usually when atoms do this, they mix orbitals of different energy levels. But sometimes, atoms have orbitals that are almost the same energy level, and those atoms want to mix them too.

That's where isovalent hybridization comes in. "Isovalent" means "having the same valence," which basically means "having the same number of electrons in their outermost energy level." So isovalent hybridization is when atoms mix orbitals of the same energy level.

Why would they want to do that? Well, sometimes it makes the bonds stronger. It's kind of like how two friends who are already really similar might get even closer if they find out they have another thing in common.

So when atoms with similar orbitals get together, they can create stronger bonds in some molecules. But it's not something that happens all the time - it depends on the specific atoms and the situation they're in.

Does that make sense?