Planar Molecular Shape

[805812306]

What determines whether an organic linear molecule is planar or not? Is it that molecules with an even number of carbons have a planar shape while odd carbons mean non-planar?

Thanks in advance

[AudreyQian1J]

Hello,
I believe we can look at hybridization. Generally, a molecule would not be planar if it has an sp3 hybridized carbon/nitrogen atom or two sp2 hybridized carbon/nitrogen atoms. Anything otherwise would generally allow the structure to be planar.

[Sohan Talluri 1L]

As far as I know, the number of carbons alone doesn't determine whether an organic linear molecule is planar or not. However, whether a molecule is planar can be determined by the molecular geometries of individual atoms and their sigma/pi bonds. For example, if one of the carbons in the organic linear molecule has tetrahedral bonding surrounding it, this would make the molecule nonplanar. Additionally, if the carbons in the linear molecule are only connected by sigma bond (single bond), then they are free to rotate, making the molecule nonplanar. However, if two carbons are connected by both a sigma and a pi bond (double bond), the pi bond does not allow the carbons to rotate and ensures that the two carbons remain planar.

Hopefully this helps and please correct me if there are any mistakes.