Question

The overlapping of orbitals in benzene is of the type

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

Answer 1

Answer: (C)

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.