Lewis Structure vs Resonance Structure

[RichardValdez1L]

What is the conceptual difference between a Lewis Structure and a Resonance Structure?

[Eli Esagoff_1I]

Resonance structures are just different lewis structures. Lewis structures are the individual structures within the resonance structures. They are not two different things, they are integrated together.

[sharonvivianv]

A resonance structure is a version of a lewis structure.

[Amir Akhavan 1E]

Resonance structures are lewis structures which can have more than one possibility of forming the structure. An example of this would be by using different locations for double bonds for a structure.

[AnnaYan_1l]

One way to think of it is this:

Lewis structures are used to show how a molecule may look. However, when you draw a single Lewis structure, you may not be showing all of the possibilities (a double bond could be somewhere else, etc.). So, the Lewis structure you drew would be just a "generalized" version. Resonance structures are Lewis structures that show multiple ways one molecule could be configured (so there might be 3 resonance structures for one molecule, instead of just a single Lewis structure that is overgeneralized/correct for only some situations). Since electrons are not just in one spot, a a molecule in nature can be a resonance hybrid.

I found this image online. I think it does a good job of explaining things. The first three Lewis structures are all Lewis structures that show a single molecule (so they are resonance structures). The last structure shows how structures can be expressed when they are a resonance hybrid.

[Ashley Martinez 1G]

I think resonance structures also give a better understanding of a molecule's stability. My PLF mentioned that a molecule with many resonance structures has greater stability and is therefore less reactive than a molecule that has fewer or no resonance structures.

[fara valdez]

Are we required to use both? Or are we allowed to choose?