Distinguish between sigma and pi bond?

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DocA
Mar 20, 2018

See below.

Explanation:

Simplistically sigma bonds are single covalent bonds e.g. in organic compounds like methane #CH_4# . Pi bonds are double or triple covalent bonds so again in organic compounds like ethene and ethyne.

The different bonds form from being formed differently. Sigma bonds in alkanes form through #sp^3# hybrid orbital overlap. The pi bond in an alkene forms through #sp^2# hybrid orbital head on overlap plus the sideways overlap of unhydridised #p# orbitals on each of the carbon atoms creating the pi bond,. In Alkynes it is #sp# hybrid orbitals overlapping and 2 unhybridised #p# orbitals overlapping to form 2 pi orbitals to complete the triple bond.

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