Electron Delocalization [ENDORSED]

[Calvin Su 1B]

From today’s lecture, we learned that Lewis structures of molecules that exhibited resonance had delocalized electrons. For clarification’s sake does this mean that resonance always implies delocalization of electrons and is thus interchangeable as a term? Can the same be said for vice versa?

[Maxwell Yao]

Resonance always implies that there is electron delocalization. As for the interchangeability between the two terms, resonance is a specific case of electron delocalization. There are other forms of electron delocalization that exist; therefore, the terms "resonance" and "electron delocalization" shouldn't be used interchangeably.

Hope this helps.

[Chem_Mod]

Hello Calvin,

It should be noted that resonance (this state of multiple valid structures) is a consequence of electron delocalization.

[kareena_prasad]

The electrons are kind of just floating throughout the whole molecule, giving the molecule its properties. Electrons are not assigned a specific location the way we might think.

[Kaitlyn Bateman 1L]

Hi! Electron Delocalization and resonance cannot be used interchangeable because although resonance is a result of electron delocalization, not all electron delocalization is resonance. It is kind of like how a square is a rectangle but a rectangle is not a square.

[Rachel Bartley 2B]

So while resonance does always imply delocalized electrons, the two cannot be interchangeable because resonance structures are a case of delocalized electrons while delocalized electrons do not exist solely within resonance structures.

[Veronica Larson- 1I]

If there are resonance structures, then this does imply delocalized electrons because the fact that we have resonance is due to delocalized electrons. However, the terms aren't interchangeable because not all electron delocalization results in resonance.

[SerenaSabedra]

Resonance structures are defined by their property of 'floating' electrons, creating a multitude of valid Lewis structures. Thus, delocalized electrons are always implied by resonance structure. However, they are separate terms as delocalized electrons are not only in resonance structures.

[Madison Nguyen 3L]

Resonance implies that there is electron delocalization, as electrons can move around to pair up in different positions but still yield the same structure and elemental stability. However, these terms cannot be used interchangeably, since delocalized electrons can occur is more structures than just those with resonance.