Tripple bond line structure

[Grace_Aspinwall4J]

Why, when drawing the line structure for a molecule with a triple bond it is straight while when you have single or double bonds the lines go in peaks?

[Cristian Yanes 1L]

Hi Grace,

Line structures can be drawn in any shape as long as they properly reflect the formula being asked for/name/etc, so it is just coincidental that the triple bond line structures are drawn in straight lines (perhaps to show some clarity). So, triple bond line structures can also be drawn as peaks.


Hope this helps!
Cristian

[Hannah Markovic 3C]

A Triple bond forces the two carbons it is attached to to have an sp structure, which is 180 degrees and makes the bonds of that carbon be in a straight line. Therefore, triple bonds must always be drawn as straight lines. Single bonds are usually 109.5 degrees and one double bond would make 120 degree angles. This is why single and double bonds are drawn as bent lines, but triple bonds always must be straight. The above answer is incorrect.