H

Structure and Bonding

3. Complete the octets of the atoms bonded to the central atom

4. Place any leftover electrons (18-16 = 2) on the central atom:

5. it has 6 electrons so its octet is not complete add a multiple bond (first try a double bond) to see if the
central atom can achieve an octet:

We would expect that if one bond was a double bond that it should be shorter than the other (single) bond
These Lewis structures are equivalent except for the placement of the electrons (i.e. the location of the double
bond) Equivalent Lewis structures are called resonance structures, or resonance forms. The correct way to
describe ozone as a Lewis structure would be:

Condition for resonance :

i. The canonical structure of a resonance hybrid should differ only in the position of electrons and not in the
position of atoms.
ii. Each canonical structure should have the same number of unpaired electrons, may be even zero.
iii. The canonical structure having nearly the same amount of internal energy, contribute largely towards the
resonance hybrid
iv. Canonical structure which involve separation of positive and negative charges are usually of high energy and
hence contribute only slightly towards the resonance hybrid.
Misconception about resonance:
1. The canonical forms do not have any real existence
2. The molecule does not exist for a certain fraction of time in one canonical form and in another form for
other fraction of time
3. No equilibrium exist between various canonical forms, as exist between various tautomerism
forms( keto and enol) in tautomerism.
4. The molecule as such has a single structure which is the resonance hybrid of the canonical forms
and cannot be depicted by a single Lewis structure.
Properties of resonance hybrid:

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