Identify the group 4A element that best fits each of the following descriptions.

(b) Forms the strongest π bonds

Video transcript

Hi, everyone. Welcome back. Let's look at our next problem. Consider the elements of group six A identify the element that forms the strongest pi bond. And we have our four elements with their abbreviations. So a sulfur SB selenium sec oxygen O or D tellurium te. So let's think about what it is that makes a pi bomb stronger or weaker. And therefore, when we look at a group of elements that are in a single column, which one would have the strongest pi bond. Well, we recall that pi bonds are formed by the pi overlap of P orbitals. So you have atoms that have these P orbitals that overlap. We recall orbitals are these maps of the probability of where we'll find an electron. And in the case of atoms involved in a pi bond, they have this overlap between two of their P orbitals that makes the formation of a multiple bond because you have the single bond, which is a sigma overlap of S orbitals and then double or triple bonds resulting from this pi overlap of the P orbitals. So what would make a P orbital or excuse me, what would make a pi bond stronger or weaker. Well, if we're imagining neighboring atoms with this overlapping orbital, what is the main difference as we go down a column on the periodic table? Well, as you go down the atomic radius of our elements is increasing, you're adding more electrons in shells that are getting farther and farther out. So the atomic radius of your atoms is increasing. And what does this mean for our py bonds? It means there is less overlap as the atoms are becoming larger since they are becoming farther and farther apart. So less overlap means a weaker P bond. So the larger the atoms get the weaker the pi bond. However, our question is asking us for the strongest pi bond. So the strongest pi bond must therefore be the element that is the furthest up on the periodic table, the smallest of the elements. And hopefully, we are familiar with those first elements, those top rows of the periodic table. So we would be able to pick out choice c oxygen as the one that's the farthest step we want to be thorough double check. We consulted our periodic table. Sulfur is in row three. Selenium is in row four, oxygen, of course, is in row two and tellurium in row five. So yes, oxygen is the furthest up. It's the smallest atom and therefore has the most pi overlap and will be the strongest pi bond. And we see this because oxygen exists in its pure form as 02 a diatomic molecule with a double bond between the oxygens. But when we go just one step down to sulfur sulfur does not exist in this diatomic form because its pi bond is that much weaker, it's stabilized in a ring form of eight Sulfurs where there's all sigma bonds. So we see the real life impact of this. So once again of our elements in group six A, the element that forms the strongest pi bond is choice C oxygen. See you in the next video.