Under special circumstances, the s and p orbitals combine to form hybrid spn orbitals, where n indicates the number of p orbitals involved, which may have a value of 1, 2, or 3. The IIIA, IVA, and VA group elements of the periodic table (Figure 2.6) are those that most often form these hybrids. The driving force for the formation of hybrid orbitals is a lower energy state for the valence electrons. For carbon the sp3 hybrid is of primary importance in organic and polymer chemistries. The shape of the sp3 hybrid is what determines the 109 (or tetrahedral) angle found frequently in polymer chains (Chapter 14).