Which is harder to break: sigma or pi?

[SaintJude]

Advertisement - Members don't see this ad

Let me get this straight:

So a sigma bond is stronger/harder to break than a pi bond. But a double bond is stronger than a single bond?

👍👎?

 

[MrNeuro]

Let me get this straight:

So a sigma bond is stronger/harder to break than a pi bond. But a double bond is stronger than a single bond?

👍👎?

yeeepp

think of it like rebar and concrete

rebar is the sigma concrete is the pi

easier to break concrete but harder to break concrete + rebar in compared to just rebar

 

[bajoneswadup]

double bond has sigma and a pi bond so yeah

 

[dmf2682]

important to remember that double bonds are NOT just pi bonds. They are as jones said, a sigma + a pi. A double bond is ~1.5x stronger than a single bond, the pi bond being 50% of a sigma bond in strength. I don't know exactly what the relative strength is but you get the idea.