can the orbitals of penultimate shell get hybridized

Yes in some cases in formation of complex compounds the inner d orbitals participate

 

Ni(CN)4 -2

 

First we need to calculate the charge on Nickel

x+(-4)=-2

x=2

Hence Ni+2

So now we need to write configuration of Ni+2

1s22s22p63s23p63d8

 

3d23d23d23d13d1    4s   4px 4py 4pz

 As the bond is with CN - ion so the pairing will take place due to spectrochemical series.

 

Thus the configuration becomes

 

3d23d23d23d23d     4s   4px  4py 4pz

 

Thus Now one 3d and one 4s and three 4p are emplty so the CN- can give electrons to 3d 4s 4px 4py . hence the hybridfisation comes out to be

dsp2