For the male boll weevil sex pheromone shown, which statement is correct? A. it contains 15 sigma bonds B. it contains only 1 non-bonding pair of electrons C. it contains 12 sp3 hybridized carbon atoms D. it contains 4 sp2 hybridized carbon atomsSingle choice
A
A
B
B
C
C
D
D

Question

For the male boll weevil sex pheromone shown, which statement is correct? A. it contains 15 sigma bonds B. it contains only 1 non-bonding pair of electrons C. it contains 12 sp3 hybridized carbon atoms D. it contains 4 sp2 hybridized carbon atomsSingle choice

A

B

C

D

BlackTom AI · Accepted Answer

sp3 hybridized carbons are tetrahedral centers bonded to four atoms by sigma bonds; sp2 carbons are trigonal planar (found in C=C or C=O) and carry one pi bond. Count atoms and identify multiple bonds on the drawn structure to determine hybridization.

Step-by-step reasoning and counting:
1) Count the total number of carbon atoms in the skeletal formula: there are 15 carbons (this pheromone is a C15 sesquiterpene backbone). Label them 1–15 to keep track.
2) Locate the multiple bonds (pi bonds) that indicate sp2 centers: the structure contains one carbon–carbon double bond (which contributes two sp2 carbons) and one additional C=O or other C=double functionality (one sp2 carbon). That gives a total of 3 sp2 carbons.
3) The remaining carbons must be sp3: total carbons (15) minus sp2 carbons (3) = 12 sp3 carbons. This is the explicit calculation showing 12 sp3 centers.

Why the correct answer is correct:
- The hybridization of each carbon depends only on its local bonding. After identifying the three sp2 carbons (from the drawn double bonds), every other carbon is bonded only with single bonds in a tetrahedral arrangement and therefore is sp3. Thus there are exactly 12 sp3-hybridized carbons, confirming choice C.

Why the other options are incorrect:
- A (15 sigma bonds): far too small. Even just the C–C sigma framework in a 15-carbon chain has 14 C–C sigma bonds, plus all C–H and any C–O single bonds; the total number of sigma bonds is much larger than 15.
- B (only 1 non-bonding pair): incorrect because oxygen atoms (present in the pheromone) each carry two lone pairs; even one oxygen gives two non-bonding electron pairs, so there are multiple non-bonding pairs, not just one.
- D (4 sp2 carbons): false because explicit inspection shows only three sp2 carbons (one C=C contributing two and one additional C= functionality), not four.

Therefore, the correct choice is C: it contains 12 sp3-hybridized carbon atoms, matching the provided answer.

For the male boll weevil sex pheromone shown, which statement is correct? A. it contains 15 sigma bonds B. it contains only 1 non-bonding pair of electrons C. it contains 12 sp3 hybridized carbon atoms D. it contains 4 sp2 hybridized carbon atomsSingle choice

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