What type of bonding is present in alkenes?

Study for the AS Level Chemistry Exam. Test your knowledge with flashcards and multiple choice questions. Each question comes with hints and explanations. Prepare confidently for your exam!

Alkenes are hydrocarbons characterized by having at least one carbon-carbon double bond (C=C). The structure of alkenes includes both sigma (σ) and pi (π) bonds.

In a carbon-carbon double bond, one bond is a sigma bond, which is formed by the head-on overlap of orbitals, allowing for a strong bond between the two carbon atoms. This bond allows for free rotation around the bond axis.

The second bond in the double bond is a pi bond, which forms as a result of the sideways overlap of p orbitals from each carbon atom. This type of bonding does not allow for free rotation due to the nature of the overlapping p orbitals.

Thus, the presence of both types of bonds in alkenes means that their bonding structure includes both sigma and pi bonds, making this the correct answer. In contrast, the options mentioning only sigma bonds or only pi bonds would not accurately reflect the complete bonding scenario in alkenes, while ionic bonds are not relevant since alkenes consist of covalent bonds.

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