Resonance in molecular chemistry is a key concept for understanding electron distribution in molecules like ozone, nitrate, and benzene. It explains why a single Lewis structure cannot fully represent certain molecules, necessitating the use of resonance structures to depict the true, delocalized nature of electron distribution. The resonance hybrid, an average of these structures, provides a more accurate representation of molecular stability and bond characteristics.
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Resonance is a concept that describes the electron distribution in molecules with multiple Lewis structures
Definition of Resonance Structures
Resonance structures are hypothetical representations of a molecule's electron distribution
Relationship to Resonance Hybrid
Resonance structures contribute to the overall electron distribution in a molecule's resonance hybrid
The resonance hybrid is a more accurate depiction of a molecule's electron distribution than any individual resonance structure
Ozone is a classic example of a molecule with resonance, where the true structure is a hybrid of two resonance structures
The presence of pi bonds is essential for the occurrence of resonance in molecules
The nitrate ion, benzene, and carbonate ion are all examples of molecules with resonance
The most significant resonance structures are those with the fewest formal charges and the most stable distribution of electrons
Bond order is the average number of chemical bonds between atoms in a molecule's resonance hybrid
The delocalization of electrons in resonance structures stabilizes the molecule by reducing electron-electron repulsion
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In molecular chemistry, ______ describes how electrons are distributed in molecules that cannot be depicted by a single ______ structure.
Resonance
Lewis
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Definition of resonance in molecules
Resonance in molecules refers to a situation where more than one valid Lewis structure can be drawn for a molecule, indicating delocalized electrons.
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Lewis structure variability in ozone
Ozone has two resonance structures that differ by the placement of the double bond among the oxygen atoms.
