What is the number of sigma and pi bonds in #CH_3CN#?

1 Answer
reudhreghs
Apr 8, 2016

#6 sigma + 2 pi#

Explanation:

In the methyl #CH_3# group, there are #3# #sigma#-bonds between the carbon and hydrogen, because you can't double bond a hydrogen so there are no #pi#'s.

Now that carbon has #3# bonds of its total #4#, so there is only one left to bond to the second carbon. That gives another #sigma#-bond, making #4sigma# in total so far.

The second carbon has only one bond at the moment, so to be stable it must have #3# more bonds with the nitrogen to fill all of their outer shells. If there is a triple bond, there must be one #sigma# and two #pi# bonds.

In total, there are #6 sigma + 2 pi# bonds.

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