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Topic: Number of unhybridized valence shell P orbitals  (Read 1066 times)

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Offline OrganicH2O

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Number of unhybridized valence shell P orbitals
« on: May 12, 2019, 05:58:36 PM »
I attached the molecule as a picture. The question is "how many unhybridized valence shell P orbitals does this molecule have?" The correct answer is nine.

My understanding is that each pi bond contains two p orbitals, which brings it up to 4 p orbitals.

I am also guessing the bromine will add some p orbitals, because halogens making only single bonds, and especially larger atoms like 3rd/4th row, will commonly not hybridize their orbitals. But bromine would only have three p orbitals in its valence shell, which means that the answer would be seven. So where do the other two p orbitals come from?
I have a Master's in organic chemistry and I am exposed to a LOT of different introductory organic chem classes in the course of my work, ranging from very basic to Harvard. I am here to refine my knowledge and consult with other organic chemistry nerds.

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