Chapter 1: Structure Determines Properties

In order to be most effective for you, try to answer these questions before you look at the answers!

Resonance

1.  Many carbonyl containing compounds such as ketones react with bases to give enolate ions.   Consider [CH₃CH-C(O)-CH₃]^- (but-2-ene-2-olate), can you find the two major resonance structures for this molecule.

2.  Aromatic ring systems often display resonance, show what the electron delocalization in a compound like p-nitroaniline would be like.

Answers ?

© Dr. Ian Hunt, Department of Chemistry, University of Calgary