What is the difference in spatial distribution between electrons ...

Question

What is the difference in spatial distribution between electrons in a p bond and electrons in a s bond?

Accepted Answer

Hey everyone were asked which of the following explains the difference in electron distribution in a pi bond and a sigma bond. Now, before we look at our answer choices, let's go ahead and think about what we've learned. So for a pi bond, I'm going to pull up a figure right here. And as we can see in our figure, we have our orbital's overlapping laterally or in a side by side fashion. Now, when we think about a sigma bond, we can see an end on overlap of orbital's right here. Now, looking at our answer choices, it looks like answer choice B explains this difference correctly. Where we have the shared electrons in a pi bond occupy the region above and below the inter nuclear axis, while the shared electrons in a sigma bond occupy the inter nuclear axis. Which can be seen in our figures below. Now, I hope that made sense. And let us know if you have any questions.

Watch next