So before hybridization took place, we had the following picture of our carbon atom. So, the carbon atom has four bounce electrons. Two bounce electrons are in the two S orbitals shown here. One bounce electron is in the two PX, one balanced electron is in the two PY and no electrons are in the two PZ. So how does hybridization take place? Well, first we must ask the following question how many hybrid orbitals should carbon develop so that it can create the methane molecule?