In chemistry, a multiple bond is a chemical bond where two or more electron pairs are shared between two atoms. Double and triple bonds are multiple bonds.
In a double bond, four bonding electrons participate in the bond rather than two electrons in a single bond. Double bonds are found in azo compounds (N=N), sulfoxides (S=O), and imines (C=N). The equal sign is typically used to denote a double bond.
A triple bond involves six bonding electrons. The triple bond is drawn using three parallel lines (≡). The most common triple bond occurs in alkynes. Molecular nitrogen (N2) is an excellent example of a compound with a triple bond (N≡N).Triple bonds are stronger than double or single bonds.
Source
- March, Jerry (1985). Advanced Organic Chemistry: Reactions, Mechanisms, and Structure (3rd ed.). New York: Wiley. ISBN 0-471-85472-7.