The basic principles of resonance

resonance of ozone

The basic principles of resonance:
  • Resonance exists when a compound cannot be represented by a single Lewis structure.
  • Resonance structures differ in the position of only non-bonded electrons and π bonds, not atoms.
  • The resonance hybrid is the only accurate representation for a resonance-stabilized compound. A hybrid represents the compound better than any single resonance structure because electron density is delocalized.