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A friend tells you N2 has three π bonds due to overlap of the three p-orbitals on each N atom. Do you agree?

a) Yes.
b) No.

1 Answer

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Final answer:

No, N₂ does not have three π bonds, but rather one σ bond and two π bonds, resulting in a triple bond consisting of these three bonds together.

Step-by-step explanation:

No, I do not agree that N₂ has three π bonds due to the overlap of the three p-orbitals on each nitrogen atom. In the nitrogen molecule (N₂), there is only one π bond. The bonding in N₂ involves one σ bond and two π bonds. The σ bond is formed by end-to-end overlap of two p orbitals, one from each nitrogen atom.

Two of the p orbitals (one on each nitrogen) are oriented side-by-side and form two π bonds, as illustrated in valence bond theory. The molecule has a triple bond overall, which consists of one σ bond and two π bonds, not three π bonds.

User Frank Hadder
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