sigma and pi bonds

[Angela Grant 1D]

what makes sigma bonds weaker than pi bonds?

[Chloe Thorpe 1J]

I thought that pi bonds were weaker than sigma bonds since the amount of overlap in a sigma bond is greater than that in a pi bond. I try to imagine the lobes of the p-orbitals overlapping in a sigma bond versus a pi bond; the head-to-head overlay > side-to-side overlay.

[Matthew Tran 1H]

Sigma bonds are actually stronger than pi bonds because there is more electron interaction (head-to-head orbital overlap vs. side-by-side overlap). You may be getting confused with single vs. double bonds. Single bonds are weaker than double bonds because there are less electrons involved (2 vs. 4). Also, double bonds have a pi bond in addition to a sigma bond while single bonds only have a sigma bond. Obviously the fact that there is one more bond means that the double bond is shorter and stronger.

[Josceline 3J]

I think it is the other way around. Pi bonds are weaker than the sigma bonds. Pi bonds are easier to break. I think it has to do with the sigma bonds been closer to the nucleus or something like that.

[Nancy Hu - 4E]

Pi bonds by themselves are actually weaker than sigma bonds because there is less area of overlap between p orbitals than s orbitals. Single bonds are weaker than double bonds because single bonds has only a sigma bond while double bonds have a sigma and pi bond.

[Vanadium Wang 4H]

Pi bonds are usually weaker than sigma bonds. Quantum mechanics says this is because the orbital paths are parallel so there is much less overlap between the p-orbitals.