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NEET CHEMISTRYMedium

Which of the following species contains equal number of σ\sigma and π\pi bonds?

A

HCO3\text{HCO}_3^-

B

XeO4\text{XeO}_4

C

(CN)2(\text{CN})_2

D

CH2(CN)2\text{CH}_2(\text{CN})_2

Step-by-Step Solution

Let us calculate the number of σ\sigma and π\pi bonds in each species:

  • HCO3\text{HCO}_3^-: The bicarbonate ion has the structure HO-C(=O)O\text{HO-C(=O)O}^-. It contains 44 σ\sigma bonds (one C-OH\text{C-OH}, one C-O\text{C-O}^-, one C=O\text{C=O}, and one O-H\text{O-H}) and 11 π\pi bond (in the C=O\text{C=O} double bond).
  • XeO4\text{XeO}_4: In Xenon tetroxide, the central Xenon atom is sp3sp^3 hybridised and forms four double bonds with four oxygen atoms. Each double bond consists of 11 σ\sigma and 11 π\pi bond. Thus, there are 44 σ\sigma bonds and 44 π\pi bonds in total.
  • (CN)2(\text{CN})_2: Cyanogen (NC-CN\text{N}\equiv\text{C-C}\equiv\text{N}) contains 33 σ\sigma bonds (one C-C\text{C-C} and two C-N\text{C-N}) and 44 π\pi bonds (two in each CN\text{C}\equiv\text{N} triple bond).
  • CH2(CN)2\text{CH}_2(\text{CN})_2: Malononitrile (NC-CH2-CN\text{NC-CH}_2\text{-CN}) contains 66 σ\sigma bonds (two C-C\text{C-C}, two C-H\text{C-H}, and two C-N\text{C-N}) and 44 π\pi bonds. Therefore, XeO4\text{XeO}_4 is the only species that has an equal number of σ\sigma and π\pi bonds.
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