How do you determine pi and sigma bonds?

1 Answer
reudhreghs
Apr 5, 2016

A #sigma#-bond is the first bond between two atoms, and a #pi#-bond is any bond in excess to that.

Explanation:

For two atoms to join they have to have at least one bond between them. This is the #sigma# bond.

Any bonds in excess to the #sigma# are called #pi#-bonds. For example, a double bond has one #sigma# and one #pi#, while a triple bond has one #sigma# and two #pi#. Whatever the bond, it can only ever have one #sigma#

On an #n#-bond, where #n# is the number of covalent bonds between two atoms, it is made of

#n -> sigma + (n-1)pi#

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