Question #7509e

1 Answer
Mar 26, 2017

The “sigma” bond is formed by electrons in the ‘s’ orbitals, and the “pi” bonds are formed by electrons in the ‘p’ orbitals.

Explanation:

The “sigma” bond is formed by electrons in the ‘s’ orbitals, and the “pi” bonds are formed by electrons in the ‘p’ orbitals. The Greek letter/names are used to distinguish the bonds from the orbitals themselves.

Why s, p, d, f? Early on in the development of this model, the names of the sub-levels came from 's harp', 'p rinciple', 'd iffuse'
and 'f undamental' - words used in describing spectral lines of hydrogen. http://www.midlandisd.net/cms/lib01/TX01000898/Centricity/Domain/1897/05_Electron_Configurations_Orbital_Notation_and_Quantum_Numb.pdf

A detailed discussion of the bonds is here:
https://socratic.org/chemistry/the-electron-configuration-of-atoms/arrangement-of-electrons-in-orbitals-spd-and-f