# How many sigma and pi bonds do sp, sp2, sp3, sp3d, sp3d2 have?

Aug 4, 2016

Without knowing more context, it's not possible to know the number of $\pi$ bonds.

If you want to get the number of $\pi$ bonds, know what compound you're looking at, and just count them.

One pure double bond has one $\sigma$ and one $\pi$ bond, and one pure triple bond has one $\sigma$ and two $\pi$ bonds.

From knowing the hybridization of the central atom, we can determine the number of $\sigma$ bonds around the central atom, but no more than that without more information.

Examples:

• $s p$ hybridization in acetylene corresponds with two $\sigma$ bonds around one carbon.

• $s {p}^{2}$ hybridization in ethene corresponds with three $\sigma$ bonds around one carbon.

• $s {p}^{3}$ hybridization in methane corresponds with four $\sigma$ bonds around one carbon.

• $s {p}^{3} d$ hybridization in ${\text{PF}}_{5}$ corresponds with five $\sigma$ bonds around one phosphorus.

• $s {p}^{3} {d}^{2}$ hybridization in ${\text{SF}}_{6}$ corresponds with six $\sigma$ bonds around one sulfur.

You can see that the number of orbitals used in the hybridization spits out the same number of hybridized orbitals that can $\sigma$ bond. That is, you get five $s {p}^{3} d$ orbitals, for example.

Therefore, the number of orbitals used in the hybridization is the number of $\setminus m a t h b f \left(\sigma\right)$ bonds made around the central atom.