Which is harder to break: sigma or pi?

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SaintJude

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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?

:thumbup::thumbdown:?

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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?

:thumbup::thumbdown:?

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
 
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.
 
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