sigma and pi bonds for benzene molecule

[Aishwarya Kosgi 1F]

Hi! I had a question about the number of sigma and pi bonds in a benzene molecule (C6H6). Since the molecule has a ring of carbons in a hexagon shape with 3 double bonds, would this mean there are 6 sigma bonds and 3 pi bonds in the carbon ring? I wasn't sure how this would work since technically all the bonds are the same length and the double bonds are resonance structures. The actual length of the bond is somewhere between a single and double bond, but would we still classify it as 6 sigma bonds and 3 pi bonds? Thanks!

[Alvin Lai 3J]

I believe it would be 12 sigma bonds and 3 pi bonds because each carbon is also bonded to a hydrogen. Hope this helps!

[Lesly Lopez 3A]

Hi,

I was also thinking about this but I think Alvin is right. There are definitely 3 pi bonds but instead of 6 sigma bonds you have to take into considerations the extra bonding the carbons have with the hydrogen atoms. Therefore the total number of sigma bonds would be 12.

[Morgan Gee 3B]

Benzene has a total of 9 single bonds and 3 double bonds. There are 6 hydrogens bonded to each carbon (6 single bonds) and 3 single bonds between carbons (3 more single bonds) for a total of 9 single bonds. There are also 3 double bonds between carbons for a total of 3 double bonds. This means that there are 12 sigma bonds and 3 pi bonds in benzene.