The structure of acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin) is shown here. How many sigma bonds?

Verified step by step guidance

1. Identify all the atoms in the acetylsalicylic acid molecule. Each carbon (C), hydrogen (H), and oxygen (O) atom can form bonds with other atoms.
2. Recognize that sigma bonds ($sigma$) are single covalent bonds between atoms. Each line in the structural formula represents a sigma bond.
3. Count each line connecting two atoms in the structure as one sigma bond. This includes bonds between C-C, C-H, and C-O.
4. Do not count double bonds as two sigma bonds; a double bond consists of one sigma bond and one pi bond. Only count the sigma component.
5. Sum up all the sigma bonds you have counted to get the total number of sigma bonds in the molecule.

Key Concepts

Sigma Bonds

Sigma bonds are the strongest type of covalent bond formed by the head-on overlap of atomic orbitals. Each sigma bond allows for free rotation around the bond axis and is characterized by a cylindrical symmetry around the bond. In organic molecules, sigma bonds are typically formed between carbon and other atoms, such as hydrogen or oxygen.

Molecular Structure

The molecular structure refers to the arrangement of atoms within a molecule, including the types of bonds and the spatial orientation of these atoms. Understanding the molecular structure is crucial for determining the number of sigma bonds, as it helps visualize how atoms are connected and the types of orbitals involved in bonding.

Counting Bonds in Organic Compounds

Counting bonds in organic compounds involves identifying all the covalent bonds present in the molecular structure. Each single bond represents one sigma bond, while double and triple bonds consist of one sigma bond and one or two pi bonds, respectively. This process is essential for understanding the bonding framework of molecules like acetylsalicylic acid.