resonance hybrid

chemistry

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

July 13, 2026

Quick Summary

In chemistry, a resonance hybrid describes a molecule whose actual structure is an average of several distinct, hypothetical structures. This concept, known as the theory of resonance, suggests that a molecule doesn't strictly adhere to one single arrangement of atoms and bonds. Instead, it resonates among these possibilities, resulting in a more stable state than any individual structure. The energy difference between the hypothetical structures and the actual resonance hybrid is called resonance energy. A classic example is benzene, where the carbon-carbon bonds are all equivalent due to resonance, a concept further developed by scientists like Linus Pauling using quantum-mechanical principles.

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

3 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

chemical bonding
Resonant structures
…structure of benzene is a resonance hybrid of the two canonical structures. In quantum mechanical terms, the blending effect of resonance in the Lewis approach to bonding is the superposition of wave functions for each contributing canonical structure. The effect of resonance is the sharing of the double-bond character around…
Read More
…structure of benzene is a resonance hybrid of the two canonical structures. In quantum mechanical terms, the blending effect of resonance in the Lewis approach to bonding is the superposition of wave functions for each contributing canonical structure. The effect of resonance is the sharing of the double-bond character around…
Read More

chemical bonding
Molecules with multiple bonds
The actual molecule is a resonance hybrid of these and related structures; but, as each one corresponds to the same geometry, no particular Lewis structure need be selected before one can make a prediction based on VSEPR theory. In other words, resonance does not affect the shapes of molecules.
Read More
The actual molecule is a resonance hybrid of these and related structures; but, as each one corresponds to the same geometry, no particular Lewis structure need be selected before one can make a prediction based on VSEPR theory. In other words, resonance does not affect the shapes of molecules.
Read More

theory of resonance
…a structure that is a resonance hybrid of these structures. The energy calculated for a resonance hybrid is lower than the energies of any of the alternative structures; the molecule is then said to be stabilized by resonance. The difference between the energies of any one of the alternative structures…
Read More
…a structure that is a resonance hybrid of these structures. The energy calculated for a resonance hybrid is lower than the energies of any of the alternative structures; the molecule is then said to be stabilized by resonance. The difference between the energies of any one of the alternative structures…
Read More

Linus Pauling
Elucidation of molecular structures
…intermediate structure that was a resonance combination (or hybrid) of other structures. His book The Nature of the Chemical Bond, and the Structure of Molecules and Crystals (1939) provided a unified summary of his vision of structural chemistry.
Read More
…intermediate structure that was a resonance combination (or hybrid) of other structures. His book The Nature of the Chemical Bond, and the Structure of Molecules and Crystals (1939) provided a unified summary of his vision of structural chemistry.
Read More