Orbital Picture of Benzene (C₆H₆) is a planar, cyclic molecule with six carbon atoms arranged in a hexagonal ring.
Each carbon atom in benzene is sp² hybridized, meaning each carbon atom forms three sigma (σ) bonds: two with adjacent carbon atoms and one with a hydrogen atom.
This leaves one unhybridized p orbital on each carbon atom.
1. Sigma Bonds (σ Bonds) in Orbital Picture of Benzene:
These are the single bonds formed by the overlap of sp² hybrid orbitals from each carbon atom with its neighbours and with hydrogen atoms.
2. Pi Bonds (π Bonds):
The unhybridized p orbitals, which are perpendicular to the plane of the benzene ring, overlap side-by-side above and below the plane of the ring to form a continuous π electron cloud.
his delocalization of electrons results in π bonds that are spread equally over all six carbon atoms.