Grade 12 Chemistry
Resonance structures are needed to describe the bonding in which of the following?
Question 25 options:
a) CO2
b) H2O
c) ClF3
d) HNO3
e) CH4
is the correct answer is c?
1 answer
No, the correct answer is a) CO2. Resonance structures are needed to describe the bonding in molecules that exhibit delocalized electrons, such as CO2. In CO2, the carbon atom forms a double bond with each oxygen atom, and the electrons are spread out over both bonds. This can be represented by drawing a resonance structure with alternating double bonds between the carbon and oxygen atoms. In the other options (b) H2O, (c) ClF3, (d) HNO3, and (e) CH4, resonance structures are not needed because the bonding can be correctly described using simple Lewis structures.