My question is from a chemistry assignment Describe the structure and bonding associated with C3 of pent-2-ene? Thanks in advance!

1 Answer
May 30, 2018

Here's what I find.

Explanation:

The structure of pent-2-ene is

pentene

The important structural features are

  • Carbons 1, 4, and 5 are #"sp"^3# hybridized, with a tetrahedral geometry and bond angles of 120°

  • There is free rotation about the #"C1-C2"# and #"C4-C5"# bond axes

  • Carbons 2 and 3 are #"sp"^2# hybridized with bond angles of 120° and a trigonal planar geometry

  • Carbons 1, 2, 3, and 4 and the #"H"# atoms on carbons 2 and 3 are all in the same plane

  • There is no free rotation about the #"C2-C3"# bond axis

  • The #"C=C"# double bond consists of a σ bond (#"sp"^2"-sp"^2# end-on overlap) and a π bond (#"p-p"# sideways overlap).