What is a pi bond in chemistry?
Q: What is a pi bond in chemistry?
A: A pi bond is a covalent chemical bond where the orbital path of one electron crosses over with the path of another, creating two areas of overlap as the paths overlap on both lobes.
Q: What is the Greek letter referred to in their name?
A: The Greek letter referred to in their name is π and it refers to p orbitals.
Q: What is the orbital symmetry of the pi bond?
A: The orbital symmetry of the pi bond looks the same as the p orbital when seen down the bond axis as p orbitals usually have this sort of bonding.
Q: Why are pi bonds usually weaker than sigma bonds?
A: Pi bonds are usually weaker than sigma bonds because according to quantum mechanics, the orbital paths are parallel, so there is much less overlap between the p-orbitals.
Q: When do pi bonds happen?
A: Pi bonds happen when two atomic orbitals are in contact through two areas of overlap.
Q: What are pi-bonds?
A: Pi-bonds are more spread out bonds than sigma bonds.
Q: Can molecular fragments joined by a pi bond rotate about that bond without breaking the pi bond?
A: No, molecular fragments joined by a pi bond cannot rotate about that bond without breaking the pi bond as the rotation destroys the parallel paths of the two p orbitals.
