Chapter 9, Problem 71AE

Vitamin B₆ is an organic compound whose deficiency in the human body can cause apathy, irritability, and an increased susceptibility to infections. Below is an incomplete Lewis structure for vitamin B₆. Complete the Lewis structure and answer the following questions. Hint: Vitamin B₆ can be classified as an organic compound (a compound based on carbon atoms). The majority of Lewis structures for simple organic compounds have all atoms with a formal charge of zero. Therefore, add lone pairs and multiple bonds to the structure below to give each atom a formal charge of zero.

a. How many σ bonds and π bonds exist in vitamin B₆?

b. Give approximate values for the bond angles marked a through g in the structure.

c. How many carbon atoms are sp² hybridized?

d. How many carbon, oxygen, and nitrogen atoms are sp³ hybridized?

e. Does vitamin B₆ exhibit delocalized π bonding? Explain.