Pi vs Sigma

[Sandra Espinoza 3A]

Why are pi bonds weaker than sigma if there are double bonds involved with Pi bonds and double bonds are stronger than single bonds?

[205957986]

pi bonds are weaker than sigma bonds because pi bonds have less electron density between the atoms (due to a lesser extent of overlap between atomic orbitals) than sigma bonds do .

[305920501]

Bonds are stronger when their orbitals overlap more. Sigma bonds overlap more than pi bonds because they are cylindrically symmetrical and connect across the same long axis of bonds. Pi bonds, on the other hand, overlap less than sigma bonds across the internuclear axis, which is weaker. Double bonds possess both sigma and pi bonds, so they are stronger than single bonds, but sigma bonds are still stronger than pi bonds.

[Shaniya Kerns 4D]

Single bonds are typically made up of one sigma bond, double bonds are made up of one sigma and one pi bond, while triple bonds are made up of one sigma bond and 2 pi bonds. One sigma bond isn't as strong as one sigma bond and 2 triple bonds simply because there are more bonds. But due to the concentration density of electrons in a sigma bond it would be considered the strongest bond.