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How many sigma and pi bonds in this molecule?

H2CC(CH3)CHCH2

If you could also explain to me how you figure it out that would be very useful. I understand the principles behind these types of bond, but I don't get how this molecule would really work, as especially at the beginning, why would H2 bond onto something when it already has a full outer shell???

Any help would be really appreciated, everyone will get a thumbs up!

Thank you!!

2 Answers

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  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago
    Favorite Answer

    You need to be able to draw the molecule to show its bonding. The common name for this molecule is "isoprene". Use Google images to find a representation that shows isoprene's bonding.

    For single bonds count one sigma; for double bonds count one sigma and one pi bond.

    Don't forget to count the carbon-hydrogen (sigma) bonds in the -CH3 side chain. I get 12 sigma and 2 pi bonds in the whole molecule, but that was at a quick glance and you should check that I haven't made a mistake.

  • Alan F
    Lv 6
    1 decade ago

    H2 in this formula means 2 H joined to 1 C, not H2 joined to 1 carbon.Trust you can see the difference.

    Next H has single valency bond and C has 4

    So the first carbon atom is joined the 2 hydrogens the carbon in the CH3 and the carbon in the CH group, giving a valency of 4. The C in the CH3 is joined to 3 hydrogens, and 1 C, so 4 again. These bonds are all simple single bonds, and so are sigma bonds.

    Then it is CH joined to the previous carbon by a single bond, joined to another C, which has 2H attached to it. In this case both Cs have only 3 bonds accounted for. The result is a double bond between these 2 Cs. to make each 4, this is a pi bond, with the original sigma bond.

    Hope that is clear.

    Source(s): School
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