How many sigma and pi bonds are in C_4H_6?

1 Answer
reudhreghs
Apr 16, 2016

9sigma + 2pi.
Nine sigma and two pi bonds are present.

Explanation:

There are a number of isomers of C_4H_6, but I'll assume you're talking about 1,3-butadiene, because it's the one Google chose.

![http://chemistry.about.com/od/factsstructures/ig/Chemical-Structures---B/1-3-Butadiene.htm](useruploads.socratic.org)

1,3-butadiene has four carbon atoms, joined together with two double bonds and a single bond. A double bond is a pi and a sigma, and a single bond is just a sigma. This renders

2(sigma + pi) + sigma = 3sigma + 2pi.

There are six hydrogen, each with only a single bond joining them to the carbons, and so this means another 6sigma bonds are present.

Putting all of this together,

(3sigma + 2pi) + 6sigma = 9sigma + 2pi

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