In the context of chemistry, the term refers to the representation of the electronic
structure of a
molecular entity in terms of
contributing structures. Resonance among contributing structures means that the wavefunction is represented
by '
mixing' the wavefunctions of the contributing structures. The concept is the basis of the
quantum mechanical
valence bond methods. The resulting stabilization is linked to the quantum mechanical concept
of '
resonance energy'. The term resonance is also used to refer to the
delocalization phenomenon itself.
Source:
PAC, 1994, 66, 1077
(Glossary of terms used in physical organic chemistry (IUPAC Recommendations 1994))
on page 1161
Cite as:
IUPAC. Compendium of Chemical Terminology, 2nd ed. (the "Gold Book"). Compiled by
A. D. McNaught and A. Wilkinson. Blackwell Scientific Publications, Oxford (1997).
XML on-line corrected version: http://goldbook.iupac.org (2006-) created by M. Nic,
J. Jirat, B. Kosata; updates compiled by A. Jenkins. ISBN 0-9678550-9-8.
https://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.
