One thing has been missing from the discussion of resonance. What’s the point? Who cares if we can write out resonance structures? What does it matter if we can figure out the two or three most stable resonance structures? So what? Here’s the point: we can apply resonance (and electronegativity) to figure out the electron [...]

Last time I talked about π donation and π donors, which are atoms capable of forming a new π bond with an adjoining C-C π bond.  The upshot of π donation is that these molecules will have an important resonance form where the carbon at the far end of the π bond (away from the π donor) [...]