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

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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