Question

Epinephrine (or adrenaline; see structure) is a naturally occurring hormone that is also manufactured commercially for use as a heart stimulant, a nasal decongestant, and to treat glaucoma.

1. What is the hybridization of each C, O, and N atom?
2. How many sigma bonds does the molecule have?
3. How many pi electrons are delocalized in the ring?

Short answer

Hybridization of central atom and bond angle:

1. The hybridization of the C is sp², O-atom is sp³ and N-atom sp² is hybridized in the Epinephrine molecule.
2. There are 26 sigma bonds in the Epinephrine molecule.
3. There are 3 pi-bonds in the Epinephrine molecule.

Step-by-step solution

Bonding

Bonding may be defined as the force of attraction between two or more atoms to form a compound. The molecule can have the same atom and a different atom.

Hybridisation

Hybridization may be defined as the mixing of the atomic orbital to form a hybrid orbital before bonding with another atomic orbital having a similar atomic orbital.

The hybridization of the atom in the Epinephrine molecule:

C-atom: sp² hybridized

O-atom: sp³ hybridized

N-atom: sp² hybridized.

Sigma Bond

Sigma bond is the bond between the molecules that are formed by the head-on-overlapping of the hybrid orbitals of the atoms.

There is 26 sigma bond which is also called a single bond in the molecule.

Pi Bond

Pi bond is the bond between the molecules that are formed by the side-on-overlappingof the hybrid orbitals of the atoms.

There are 3 pi-bond in the molecule at an alternate position.