Ethyne differs from ethene in that ethyne contains
- A. one sigma and two pi bonds between the carbon atoms, with sp hybridisation
- B. two sigma bonds between the carbon atoms
- C. only sigma bonds
- D. three pi bonds between the carbon atoms
Explanation
A triple bond is always one sigma bond plus two pi bonds, formed from two unhybridised p orbitals on each sp hybridised carbon, and the molecule is linear as a result. Ethyne also shows weak acidity, unlike ethene, because the higher s character of the sp orbital holds the bonding electrons closer to carbon. Any multiple bond, however high the order, contains exactly one sigma bond.