Why is this showing resonance?

[Saitama]

Homework Statement

Why does the following structure show resonance?

Homework Equations

The Attempt at a Solution

The question was given by my teacher and he said that yes it will show resonance. But i still can't able to make it out why would it show resonance? The point is Nitrogen is more electronegative than Carbon and therefore should not show resonance but yet it does. It passes one of its electron from the lone pair to the carbon and makes a covalent bond. I don't agree with this because nitrogen is more electronegative and should avoid giving its electron to the carbon.

Any help is much appreciated.
Thanks!

 

[Saitama]

Can i expect a reply?

 

[I like Serena]

Hi Pranav-Arora!

I just looked up the wikipedia definition of resonance.

Turns out that if you can form covalent bonds in different ways, the actual molecule is neither, but a hybrid form in between.

As it is, benzeen (C6H6) has 2 different covalent bond structures as you can see here:

Resonance structures of benzene

The same would be true if you replace one of the carbon atoms by a nitrogen atom.

 

[Saitama]

Hi Pranav-Arora!

I just looked up the wikipedia definition of resonance.

Turns out that if you can form covalent bonds in different ways, the actual molecule is neither, but a hybrid form in between.

As it is, benzeen (C6H6) has 2 different covalent bond structures as you can see here:

Resonance structures of benzene

The same would be true if you replace one of the carbon atoms by a nitrogen atom.

*At least somebody cared to reply, thanks! *

I already know about the things you just posted and that's not the main problem for me. I asked why the nitrogen atom would ever pass its electron to carbocation even if it is more electronegative. Nitrogen should not give its electron to carbon due to higher electronegativity character.

 

[Borek]

The difference is not that high, around 0.5 unit.

 

[I like Serena]

*At least somebody cared to reply, thanks! *

Have you considered that there's just not that many people around PF that know about this stuff?
I only know because I looked it up.

Now if you had some more questions on math or physics...

I already know about the things you just posted and that's not the main problem for me. I asked why the nitrogen atom would ever pass its electron to carbocation even if it is more electronegative. Nitrogen should not give its electron to carbon due to higher electronegativity character.

Seems to me that nitrogen can form different bonds with the 2 carbon atoms next to it regardless of its electronegativity.
This would imply a resonance structure.
(But I'm not a specialist. :shy:)

 

[Saitama]

The difference is not that high, around 0.5 unit.

Only 0.5? lol

What if we replace Nitrogen with Oxygen?

Now if you had some more questions on math or physics...

Don't talk about that stuff, i have already lost interest in it.

 

[Torshi]

Homework Statement

Why does the following structure show resonance?

Homework Equations

The Attempt at a Solution

The question was given by my teacher and he said that yes it will show resonance. But i still can't able to make it out why would it show resonance? The point is Nitrogen is more electronegative than Carbon and therefore should not show resonance but yet it does. It passes one of its electron from the lone pair to the carbon and makes a covalent bond. I don't agree with this because nitrogen is more electronegative and should avoid giving its electron to the carbon.

Any help is much appreciated.
Thanks!

you can make a triple bond on nitrogen making it positive so yes there is resonance.
EN doesn't stop anything from performing resonance. Except most likely your prof will say not to touch the benzene ring.