Organic Chemistry - Introduction to Resonance Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards covering core resonance principles, electron pushing conventions, structural stability rules, and Dr. Chen's LCD mnemonic based on lecture notes.

Full-headed electron pushing arrow

An arrow used in chemical mechanisms and resonance structures to represent the transfer of two electrons.

Half-headed electron pushing arrow

An arrow used in chemical mechanisms to represent the transfer of a single electron.

Resonance

A phenomenon where electron density is spread out across a molecule without shifting atomic positions, serving to stabilize the overall structure.

Delocalization

The distribution of electron density or charge across multiple atoms via sigma and pi framework bonds rather than keeping it localized on a single atom.

Major contributor

The most stable resonance structure among a set, determined by full octet satisfaction, lower formal charges, and negative charge placement on more electronegative atoms.

Resonance hybrid structure

A composite representation of all resonance forms of a molecule that depicts partial bonds with dotted lines and highlights regions of partial charge.

LCD rule

A mnemonic representing Lone pairs ($L$), Cations ($C$), and Double bonds ($D$), used to identify potential resonance positions when any two of these features are adjacent.

Pi bond ($\pi$ bond)

A looser, secondary covalent bond within multiple bonds whose electrons are shifted during resonance electron-pushing steps.