What is not true about resonance? — Chemical Bonding Chemistry Question

💡 Solution & Explanation

Step 1: Recall the basic tenets of resonance theory. Resonating structures (canonical forms) are hypothetical Lewis representations used to describe the delocalization of electrons in a molecule. Step 2: The actual state of the molecule is the resonance hybrid, which is a real species that contains the same number of paired and unpaired electrons as the contributing canonical structures. Step 3: The resonance hybrid is always more stable (meaning it is lower in potential energy, or least energetic) than any of the individual resonating structures. Thus, stating that the hybrid structure is "most energetic" is false. Therefore, the correct option is (c).