Resonance with formal charge

[ConnorRazmaDis2I]

If a molecule has a formal charge that favors one form of a Lewis structure over another does the molecule still have resonance?

[405112316]

Yes. Resonance is simply different ways of drawing a molecule's structure in terms of double bonds. Formal charge is the most stable structure of all resonance structures.

[KatrinaPho_2I]

Molecules may still have resonance even when the specific molecule is not in its most stable form. Resonance has nothing to do with the stability of the molecule.

[Katelyn Phan 2A]

The resonance of a structure will not change the FC.

[Sapna Ramappa 1J]

Yes, the molecules can still have resonance as long as the number of electrons still works in the Lewis structure! The lowest formal charge just indicates the stability of the structure.

[alanaarchbold]

So formal charge doesn't really have anything to do with resonance?

[Erin Kim 2G]

yes it can still have resonance. The formal charge is used to find the most stable Lewis electron dot structure, ones with elements of formal charge closest to 0.