Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
A single bond is a chemical bond where two atoms share one pair of electrons. It is the simplest type of covalent bond and typically involves s-orbitals or hybrid orbitals like sp^2 in ethylene.
A type of chemical bond where atoms share pairs of electrons to achieve stability.
sp^2 hybrid orbitals: Orbitals formed by the mixing of one s orbital and two p orbitals resulting in three equivalent hybrid orbitals used in forming bonds within molecules like ethylene.
Ethylene (C2H4): An organic compound made up of four hydrogen atoms double bonded to two carbon atoms, which are also connected by sp^2 hybridized orbitals