9.5. Hybridization and Molecular Orbitals http://www.ck12.org
FIGURE 9.28
The C 2 H 4 molecule contains five sigma bonds and one pi bond. Sigma bonds are formed by a direct overlap of
bonding orbitals, while a pi bond is formed by a side-to-side overlap of unhybridized p orbitals.The sigma bond between the two carbon atoms is formed from sp hybrid orbitals, and the remaining hybrid orbitals
form sigma bonds to the two hydrogen atoms. Both the pyand the pzorbitals on each carbon atom form pi bonds
with each other. As with ethene, these side-to-side overlaps are not directly on the line between the two bonded