Pi bond concepts

[Kevin Tang 4L]

I don't seem to fully grasp the concept of pi bonds. I understand that double bonds have one sigma and one pi and that triple bonds have one sigma and two pi bonds. Pi bonds also cannot rotate because of its orientation, it extends out perpendicular down, and up and then connect.

What I don't understand is why it extends out upwards and downward. It feels like one pi bond consists of two bonds, not one. If I am missing some concepts on pi bonds, please let me know.

Thank you.

[Anushi Patel 1J]

Each p orbital has two "lobes" that extend in opposite directions. So the parts of the bond that extend up and down are actually between 1 set of p orbitals.

[ThomasLai1D]

The shape of a single p-orbital has the shape of a dumbbell. In a pi bond, one "head" of the dumbbell extends upwards, and the other extends downwards. The upward head interacts with the upward head of the other atom and the downward head corresponds with the downward head of the other atom, which is why it seems like it should be two bonds.

[Henry Dudley 1G]

Pi bonds overlap side by side with sigma bonds preventing them from rotating.

[Karishma_1G]

Pi bonds are formed between two p orbitals that are perpendicular to the internuclear axis. For this reason, the two p orbitals overlap above and below the internuclear axis and cannot rotate. If you have the 7th edition of the textbook, Figure 2F.4 on page 118 is helpful for visualizing this bond.