Which of the following conditions is not correct for resonating structures? — Chemical Bonding Chemistry Question

💡 Solution & Explanation

Step 1: Resonating structures must follow specific rules of stability and validity to contribute significantly to the resonance hybrid. Step 2: Unlike charges (positive and negative) should ideally reside on adjacent or close atoms to minimize electrostatic potential energy. If unlike charges are far apart, the structure becomes highly unstable and contributes negligibly. Step 3: Therefore, stating that "unlike charges should reside on atoms that are far apart" is incorrect as a requirement for stable resonating structures. Thus, the correct option is (c).