How do pi bonds affect the shape of a molecule?

1 Answer
Dec 11, 2017

Pi bonds can't rotate freely like sigma bonds

Explanation:

Single bonds can rotate freely without breaking any bonds, this is not the case with double bonds (remember a double bond is one sigma bond and one pi bond) if the pi bond is rotated the interactions are broken and this doesn't happen at room temperature because you need a lot of energy to break a bond. This affects the shape of the molecule bc you can't rotate the molecule without breaking the pi bonds