If It's Resonance, What Is Resonating?

The resonance terminology that accompanies use of more than one Lewis-type structure to describe delocalized bonding in molecules has been leading students astray for more than half a century. In this article I review the origin of the terminology and how the original usage has evolved to reduce con...

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Veröffentlicht in:Journal of chemical education 2006-02, Vol.83 (2), p.223
1. Verfasser: Kerber, Robert C
Format: Artikel
Sprache:eng
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Zusammenfassung:The resonance terminology that accompanies use of more than one Lewis-type structure to describe delocalized bonding in molecules has been leading students astray for more than half a century. In this article I review the origin of the terminology and how the original usage has evolved to reduce confusion. I furthermore suggest that substitution of more easily understood terms that lack the gratuitous implications of the word resonance could finally eliminate the confusion.
ISSN:0021-9584
1938-1328
DOI:10.1021/ed083p223