Question 2.3: Drawing Resonance Forms for a Radical Draw three resonance f...

Drawing Resonance Forms for a Radical

Draw three resonance forms for the pentadienyl radical, where a radical is a substance that contains a single, unpaired electron in one of its orbitals, denoted by a dot (·).

Strategy
Find the three-atom groupings that contain a multiple bond next to a p orbital.

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The unpaired electron is on a carbon atom next to a C=C bond, giving a typical three-atom grouping that has two resonance forms:

In the second resonance form, the unpaired electron is next to another double bond, giving another three-atom grouping and leading to another resonance form:

Thus, the three resonance forms for the pentadienyl radical are:

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