Question

Is the electron density consistent with equal weights for the two resonance structures for O3?

Answer 1

Yes, the electron density consistent with equal weights for the two resonance structures for O₃. This can be explained by taking an analogy to mixing paint. An equal mix of blue and yellow color produces green color. We cannot say green color in terms of a single primary color, yet it still has its own identity. Green color does not oscillate between its two primary colors: It is not blue part of the time and yellow the rest of the time. Similarly, molecules such as ozone cannot be described as oscillating between the two individual Lewis structures.

The actual arrangement of the electrons in O₃ must be considered as a blend of two Lewis structures. ozone molecule always has two equivalent O—O bonds whose lengths are intermediate between the lengths of an oxygen-oxygen single bond and an oxygen-oxygen double bond. Another way of looking at it is to say that the rules for drawing Lewis structures do not allow us to have a single dominant structure.

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