Bent's rule

Bent's rule is a principle in chemistry that pertains to the hybridization of atomic orbitals in heteroatomic molecules, particularly those containing a central atom bonded to different substituents. Formulated by Linus Pauling and named after the chemist Robert S. Bent, the rule states that: "In a molecule, the more electronegative atoms will tend to occupy positions that allow for greater p-character in the hybrid orbitals formed by the central atom.