Resonance of an unshared electron pair between two atoms connected by a single bond

L Pauling1

  • 1Linus Pauling Institute of Science and Medicine, 440 Page Mill Road, Palo Alto, California 94306.

Related Concept Videos

Resonance02:52

Resonance

The Lewis structure of a nitrite anion (NO2−) may actually be drawn in two different ways, distinguished by the locations of the N-O and N=O bonds.
Resonance and Hybrid Structures02:16

Resonance and Hybrid Structures

According to the theory of resonance, if two or more Lewis structures with the same arrangement of atoms can be written for a molecule, ion, or radical, the actual distribution of electrons is an average of that shown by the various Lewis structures.
Resonance Structures and Resonance Hybrids
The Lewis structure of a nitrite anion (NO2−) may actually be drawn in two different ways, distinguished by the locations of the N–O and N=O bonds.
Hybridization of Atomic Orbitals II03:35

Hybridization of Atomic Orbitals II

sp3d and sp3d 2 Hybridization
Valence Bond Theory02:45

Valence Bond Theory

Overview of Valence Bond Theory
Valence Bond Theory02:42

Valence Bond Theory

Coordination compounds and complexes exhibit different colors, geometries, and magnetic behavior, depending on the metal atom/ion and ligands from which they are composed. In an attempt to explain the bonding and structure of coordination complexes, Linus Pauling proposed the valence bond theory, or VBT, using the concepts of hybridization and the overlapping of the atomic orbitals. According to VBT, the central metal atom or ion (Lewis acid) hybridizes to provide empty orbitals of suitable...