Benzene Sigma/Pi Bonds

[Jolie Sukonik 2B]

Why does benzene, C6H6, have 12 sigma bonds and 3 pi bonds?

[Ryan Laureano 3I]

Benzene has 12 bonds overall: 9 single and three triple bonds. In one single bonds is a sigma bond and in a pi bond exists a sigma bond and a pi bond. Therefore the three double bonds adds three sigma bonds and three pi bonds. Thus the total is 12 sigma and 3 pi bonds.

[Earl Garrovillo 2L]

Remember that each double bond is composed of a sigma bond and a pi bond. With that in mind, there are 6 sigma bonds from each of the single C-C bonds and another 6 sigma bonds from each of the C-H bonds. The 3 pi bonds comes from the alternating double C=C bonds in the carbon ring.

[Hannah Lechtzin 1K]

Benzene has 12 sigma bonds because it has 12 total bonds, so each bond has one sigma bond. It has 3 pi bonds because those are only present in the 3 double bonds, which have 1 sigma bond and 1 pi bond. I hope this helps!