Which bond would break first.

[janeane Kim4G]

Realistically, in a double bond of one pi and one sigma bond, which bond would break first? I would think it’s the pi bond, but I have no idea why, can someone elaborate?

[Krista Mercado 1B]

The pi-bond would break first since pi-bonds are weaker than sigma-bonds. This is because the side-by-side overlap in a pi-bond is smaller and weaker than the end-to-end overlap in a sigma bond.

[Julia Go 2L]

When a double bond breaks, pi bonds will always break first.

Pi bonds are weaker than sigma bonds. This is because sigma bonds have head-on overlapping while pi bonds only have lateral overlapping. The end-to-end axial overlap of electrons attracts the nuclei to form a strong bond. On the other hand, the electron density is more spread out in pi bonds and therefore, has weaker bonds.

Also, sigma bonds are stronger because there is a larger region of overlapping orbitals.

[Megan_Ervin_1F]

So, sigma bond is stronger than pi bond. However, in a double bond there is a pi and sigma bond. I thought double bonds were stronger than single bonds but a single bond would only have a sigma bond. Is the reason that double bonds are stronger than single bonds because double bond has both a sigma and pi bond whereas a single bond just has a sigma bond?

[405021651]

would the sigma bond be weaker one so therefor break first??

[Ethan Yi 1K]

the pi bond will break first because it is weaker than the sigma bond (less overlap).
a double bond is stronger than a single bond because it has a sigma AND pi bond rather than just a sigma bond.

[Yukta Italia 3I]

If pi bonds are weaker than sigma bonds then why are double and triple bonds stronger than single bonds?

[Sapna Ramappa 1J]

Yes, the pi bond would break first, because it has less strength (the electron density is more spread out within pi bonds).

[Hadji Yono-Cruz 2L]

Pi bonds would break first because their electrons are more spread out than those of sigma bonds. The electrons in a sigma bond are directly between the two nuclei and are harder to break.

[Searra Harding 4I]

If pi bonds are weaker than sigma bonds then why are double and triple bonds stronger than single bonds?

You are correct that pi bonds are weaker than sigma bonds. When considering why double and triple bonds are stronger than single bonds you should consider that all 3 types have one sigma bond. From here we look at the amount of pi bonds it has. A single bond has a sigma bond but a double bond has a sigma bond AND a pi bond. The amount simply makes it stronger as well as the length being shorter.

[davidryan3f]

the pi bond would break first because it is weaker than the sigma bond. It has a lower dissociation energy so it will break first.

[305117729]

pi bonds will break first, as they are weaker than sigma bonds.

[205458163]

pi bond will break first, they are weaker than sigma bonds.

[jlinwashington1B]

How would we be able to distinguish between the two? I know pie bonds show polarity, but I need a bit more clarification of sigma bonds>

[Veronica Lu 2H]

the pi bond is much weaker than the sigma bond due to the differences in the way that they overlap. Therefore, the pi bond would break first.

[Aadil Rehan 1D]

How would we be able to distinguish between the two? I know pie bonds show polarity, but I need a bit more clarification of sigma bonds>

Probably based on the length and energy of the bonds.