Resonance (all bonds are a hybrid of different bonds)

[Cindy Adiwidjaja 1B]

In class, Dr. Lavelle said that in compounds with resonance, all bonds are really just a mix of different double and single bonds and that they are a hybrid of the two. In that case, how can we depict the most accurate bond type when drawing lewis structures?

[preyasikumar_2L]

All the resonance structures of compounds that have resonance structures are equally accurate, but you would most likely have to draw all the resonance structures when asked to draw the Lewis structures for those compounds. However, you also use formal charges to determine which Lewis structure is most accurate; the Lewis structure with the formal charge closest to zero is most stable and thus more common.

[chrisleung-2J]

If there are multiple structures with the same formal charges for each atom, I believe that you would draw all of the possible structures and put the two-headed arrow between them to indicate they're all equally possible.

[Sanjana K - 2F]

I've noticed that for molecules like carbonate and benzene, they may have you draw out all the resonance forms OR you can use dotted lines to represent the bonds that change from one structure to another. Here's an example.

[ThomasNguyen_Dis1H]

You have to draw every combination of the molecule with a double headed arrow between each lewis structure. This shows that the structures can really be any of the combinations you drew. That's the most accurate way to draw it using lewis structures.

[Janet Nguy 2C]

A better representation would be to draw the resonance hybrid (in benzene's case, it is just the hexagon with a circle in the middle to denote that the double bonds could be in either of the two positions)

[Kayla Maldonado 1C]

How can you tell if a compound has resonance and do all resonance forms need to be drawn when being asked for a lewis dot diagram?

[Cindy Adiwidjaja 1B]

How can you tell if a compound has resonance and do all resonance forms need to be drawn when being asked for a lewis dot diagram?

To my knowledge, any structure with non-single bonds has resonance. In terms of depicting it, I think everyone else who replied is right.

[Michelle N - 2C]

From what I know, depending on the non-single bonds and its charges, that's how resonance occurs.

[Caroline Zepecki]

Is it possible to have a resonance structure where the bond that changes with each different possible structure is a triple bond instead of a double bond??

[Mitchell Koss 4G]

I believe so.