Why is it that this hydrocarbon is so much better at donating an H plus atom than this simpler hydrocarbon? Well, it turns out the reason is this anion is much more stable than this anion, and therefore, this reaction is much more likely to take place. So now let's examine why this compound, this anion, is much more stable. And let's look at the orbitals of these two compounds. So let's begin with our methi. So the lone pair of electrons in the methyde molecule in the methi compound are found in the SP three hybridized orbital.