Resonance Structures [ENDORSED]

[Cytlalli 1B]

How do you make sure that you have found all the resonance structures possible or is it just through trial and error?

[joannehaddad]

I would believe it's through trial and error. But usually, the quickest way to do it in my opinion is to see what is different. For example, if you're drawing a lewis structure for something bonded to 4 oxygens, with 1 single bond and 3 double bonds to oxygen), and so the resonance structures would be changing the oxygen that has the single bond. You know it can have 4 possible positions, and so you would have 4 resonant structures (one for each oxygen).

[Jennifer 1G]

I think it was mentioned that in exams our final answer has to be the one with less formal charge/most stable, so that's something to keep in mind!

[Samantha Draghi 1L]

I was confused about this too. I also was wondering if there are resonance structures are there a certain amount? and how do you know?

[Jacob Samuels 1E]

An easy way to figure out all the resonance structures is just be “spinning” the bonded atoms around the center atom until it is back in its original position.