Resonance Structures (Simplified) - Video Tutorials & Practice Problems
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Resonance Structures are used to represent the different possible bonding arrangements of a molecule.
Examining Resonance Structures
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concept
Resonance Structures (Simplified) Concept 1
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Now, residents structures are set of two or more valid lewis dot structures for polly atomic species possessing at least one pi bond. Now we're going to stay in resident structures, We have the movement of only electrons from either a pi bond. So remember double bonds, Triple bonds have pi bonds or a lone pair. So here we have N. 02 minus which is our nitrite ion. That can be shown one of two ways where the oxygen on the left is double bonded, or the oxygen on the right is double bonded. So the double bond could be on either side. So since both are possibilities, you could show both and they are residents structures. So there are two resident structures for the nitrite ion. Now we're gonna say notice we're using double sided arrows. These are used to show that the resident structures are equivalent with each other, so equal to one another. We're gonna say the real structure is represented by the composite and when I say composite, I mean the average of the residents structures called the residents hybrid. So the real structure isn't either is not resident structure one or two, it is an average of the two. Now we're going to say the residents hybrid again, is a composite of all major resident structures. To draw the residents hybrid, we place a dotted line anywhere a pi bond has been. So there was a pi bond on this oxygen on the left and there was one on this oxygen on the right, so we draw a dotted line here and a dotted line here to show that fact. So here, we could still put it in brackets in the charge on the outside. And we'd say that this could represent your resonance hybrid.
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example
Resonance Structures (Simplified) Example 1
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determine the remaining residents structures possible for the carbonate ion, which is C. 03 to minus. All right. So, remember when we talk about our resident structures, which is showing the different places a pi bond could exist within the structure. So one possible resident structure is instead of having the oxygen on the topping double bonded. Let's do the one on the left being double bonded. Notice also when the oxygen is double bonded, it doesn't have three lone pairs. It only has to it is the ones that are single bonded that have three lone pairs attached to them. And because it's an eye on you have to put it in brackets with the charge on the top right corner. But let's say that it's not the oxygen on the left or the top that is double bonded, but instead it's the one on the right. So this would be yet another way of drawing the carbonate ion. Again, the ones that are single bonded have three lone pairs. The oxygen that's double bonded, has two lone pairs, put it in brackets in the charge on the outside. So these two would be the other residents structures that exist for the carbonate ion, so the carpeting ion has three different residents structures. Again, the residents hybrid itself would just be a composite or average of these three here is not asking for it, but just realize that in this particular case, it wouldn't be any of the three being the real structure and be a blending or an average of all three.
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Problem
Problem
Determine the remaining resonance structures possible for the phosphate ion, PO43–.
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