Bonds and Hybridized Centers:

σ and π bonds

In a molecule identifying σ and π bonds is quite easy as long as you keep in mind the following rules:

• Every bond in organic structures is either sigma (σ) or pi (π) bonds;
• Every single bonds is σ bonds;
• All double bonds are made up of one σ (Sigma) bond and one π (pi) bond;
• All triple bonds are made up of one σ (Sigma) bond and two π (pi) bonds.

Figure: Examples - all the bonds shown are σ bonds except those labeled as π.