Question

The resonance structure of a molecule should not have:

• A. Identical arrangement of atoms
• B. Nearly the same energy
• C. The same number of paired electrons
• D. Identical bonding

Answer 1

The correct option is D Identical bonding

From the resonance structures, it is understood that the position of all atoms is the same.
The structures should have nearly the same energy to exhibit resonance, otherwise they will become unstable.
The number of bonds (double + single) are the same in both the structures. Hence, they possess the same number of paired electrons.


In resonance structure I, we can see that the 1st oxygen has a single bond and the 2nd oxygen has a double bond. But in the second structure, the 1st oxygen has a double bond whereas the 2nd one has a single bond. Hence, they don't have identical bonding.