Resonance Structures

Resonance structures are different Lewis structures for the same molecule that illustrate the delocalization of electrons within the molecule. These structures depict the same arrangement of atoms but vary in the placement of electrons, particularly in pi bonds and lone pairs, and are used to represent molecules that cannot be adequately described by a single Lewis structure. The true electronic structure of the molecule is a resonance hybrid, which is a weighted average of all possible resonance structures, leading to greater stability. Understanding resonance is essential for predicting the distribution of electron density in a molecule, which influences its reactivity and chemical properties.