Resonance Structures and Energy

[Daniel Hernandez 1G]

Will resonance structures always prefer the Lewis structure with the lowest amount of energy?

[Chem_Mod]

Yes, they always prefer the lowest energy structure as it is the most stable structure.

[Juliet Cushing_2H]

Yes! Chemistry always takes the path of least resistance. Because of this, molecules with lower energy (which are more stable) are inherently favored. I believe we can figure this out by seeing which resonance structure has the least amount of Formal Charges.

[Samantha Low 3D]

Yes, this is why we try to get the structures with least formal charges, least formal charge magnitudes, and the formal charges on the most electronegative atoms.

[Will Skinner]

Yes. The resonance structure that contributes the most would

1. have the least number of atoms with a formal charge that is non-zero.

2. prefer lower formal charges over higher (+ or -) ones.

[Ryan Agcaoili 2E]

The lewis structure with the lowest amount if energy and the structure where the negative formal charge is on the most electronegative atom will always be preferred.

[Olivia Monroy 1A]

Yes, lowest energy means most stable which is always preferred. Either achieve a formal charge of 0, or closest to 0 as those are most stable, and make sure the charges combined equal the total charge.

[Tatyana Bonnet 2H]

The lewis structure with the lowest amount of energy will always be favored as it is the stablest. The structure with formal charges all equal to zero, or if that isn't an option, the structure with the most amount of atoms with a 0 charge and the central atom having its lowest possible formal charge are favorable.

[Kat Stahl 2K]

Yes it always prefers the lowest energy structure because it is the most stable then. Here are more rules for which ones are more stable that might be helpful:
1. The greater the number of covalent bonds, the greater the stability since more atoms will have complete octets
2. The structure with the least number of formal charges is more stable
3. The structure with the least separation of formal charge is more stable
4. A structure with a negative charge on the more electronegative atom will be more stable
5. Positive charges on the least electronegative atom (most electropositive) is more stable
6. Resonance forms that are equivalent have no difference in stability and contribute equally (eg. benzene)

[305572629]

More spread out charges and preferably charges that are not on the center (least electronegative) atom are the most energetically favorable resonance structures.

[Talia Dini - 3I]

Yes, resonance structures will always prefer the lewis structure with the lowest amount of energy because that structure will be the most stable!

[Carolina Gomez 2G]

Resonance structures prefer the lewis structure that has the least energy because that makes the structure the most stable. Unstable structures are more reactive and are unfavorable.

[Tae Pasawat 2A]

Also wanted to clarify that all lewis structures that are possible for a molecule contributes to the resonance structure, its just that the more stable lewis structures dominate in their contribution to the resonance structure. The final resonance structure will be more similar to the most stable lewis structure.

[Brian Nguyen 2I]

Yes, they prefer the resonance structure with the lowest energy. This would be mean the formal charges are closest to zero on the atom.

[Lauren Mungo 1K]

Yes, the structure with the lowest energy will be the most stable so it will be favorable

[Ashley Lopez 3J]

We want to be able to get to a Lewis structure with the least formal charge, always. This is because they'd had the least amount of energy, thus making them more stable and we want that! Also, it is important to remember that we want to always draw these lewis structures on tests

[Aydin Karatas 1F]

Yes. Molecules want to be stable, so the resonance structure with the lowest energy will be preferred, for it is most stable.

[Mansi Solanki 3A]

Most of the times, yes. The resonance structures prefer the structure with the least amount of energy because that will make it easier for a compound to remain stable. The formal charges would be close to 0 and therefore the atoms would be satisfied.

[Yijia_Yang_3A]

yes because it is the most stable state

[AHUNT_1A]

Since it is always preferred that the lowest energy structure, it is the most stable structure. So yes.

[Ava Nickman]

Yes! that's correct

[105618850]

Yes, the molecule will always strive to achieve the greatest amount of stability meaning that it will most likely have the lowest energy.