2.3.4

Resonance Structures

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Resonance Structures

In structures with multiple bonds and when more than one Lewis structure can be drawn for the same molecule, the true structure is best represented by a resonance hybrid.

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Resonance

  • Resonance shows the delocalisation of electrons in a molecule and this needs to be considered when more than one Lewis structure can be drawn for the same molecule.
  • None of the Lewis structures drawn represents the true structure and the electron density is averaged over all positions.
  • The delocalisation of electrons gives more space for the electrons to move and molecules with resonance structures are more stable as a consequence.
  • This higher stability is known as resonance stability.
  • Resonance occurs in structures with multiple bonds.
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Example: Ozone

  • The Lewis structure of ozone can be represented by the two diagrams above.
  • The two structures can be interconverted by moving the non-bonding electron domain across from one oxygen to the other.
  • Neither of these structures is the true structure and ozone is best represented by a resonance hybrid structure.
  • This is supported by the bond lengths and strengths, which are consistent with a bond order of 1.5.
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Example: Carbonate ion

  • Three resonance structures can be drawn for the carbonate ion and the bond order is best described as 1.3.
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Example: Nitrate ion

  • Three resonance structures can be drawn for the nitrate ion and the bond order is best described as 1.3.
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Example: Carboxylate ion

  • On removing a proton from a carboxylic acid, a carboxylate ion is formed in which the two carbon-oxygen bonds become equivalent and can be considered to have a bond order of 1.5.
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Example: Benzene

  • An important example with delocalised electrons is benzene.
  • In benzene, the π-bonds are shared equally between the six positions.

Graphene

Graphene is an important example where its structure, containing delocalised electrons, confers very useful properties.

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Graphene

  • Graphene is a recently discovered allotrope of carbon, which is related to the structure of graphite with just one layer of atoms.
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Graphene structure

  • Each carbon atom bonds with three others to give a hexagon.
  • Each carbon is sp2 hybridized.
  • Each carbon atom has a spare electron, which is delocalised around the whole structure.
  • This structure is often described as a honeycomb structure.
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Properties

  • Excellent conductor
  • Very strong, but also very light
  • Transparent
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Applications

  • Drug delivery in carbon nanotubes
  • Electronics
  • Touch screens
  • Photovoltaics

Jump to other topics

1Structure - Models of the Particulate of Matter

2Structure - Models of Bonding & Structure

3Structure - Classification of Matter

3.1The Periodic Table: Classification of Elements

3.2Periodic Trends

3.3Group 1 Alkali Metals

3.4Halogens

3.5Noble gases, group 18

3.6Functional Groups: Classification of Organic

3.7Functional Group Chemistry

3.8Alkanes

3.9Alcohols

3.10Halogenoalkanes

4Reactivity - What Drives Chemical Reaction?

5Reactivity - How Much, How Fast & How Far?

6Reactivity - The Mechanisms of Chemical Change

7Measurement, Data Processing & Analysis

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