Question

The overlapping of orbitals in benzene is of the type

• A. $sp-sp$
• B. $p-p$
• C. $sp^2 -sp^2$
• D. $sp^3 -sp^3$

Answer 1

Answer: (C)

$sp^2 -sp^2$

Answer 2

The molecular orbital picture of benzene shows that in it all the six carbon atoms are sp $^{2}$ hybridised. Out of these three $s p^{2}$ hybrid orbitals of each $C$ atom, two orbitals overlap with $s p^{2}$ hybrid orbitals of adjacent $C$ atoms to form six C - C single bonds. The remaining sp $^{2}$ orbital of each $C$ atom overlaps with $s$ -orbital of each hydrogen atom to form six $C-H$ single sigma bonds. Each $C$ atom is now left with one unhybridised $p$ -orbital perpendicular to the plane of the ring.