Question
Write resonance structures of CH2 = CH–CHO, indicate relative stability of the contributing structures.
Solution
The resonance structures of CH2 = CH – CHO can be written as:
Structure 1 is the most stable because each carbon and oxygen atom has an octet and no carbon or oxygen atom has a charge.
In structure II, the negative charge on the more electronegative atom and a positive charge on the more electropositive atom.
Structure III is least stable because more electronegative oxygen has a positive charge and electropositive carbon has a negative charge.
