MCAT and Organic Chemistry Study Guides, Videos, Cheat Sheets, tutoring and more

  • Tutoring
  • Organic Chem
    • Organic Chemistry Videos
    • Organic Chemistry Tutoring
    • Study Hall – Membership Site
  • MCAT
  • About
  • Contact
  • Tutoring
  • Organic Chem
    • Organic Chemistry Videos
    • Organic Chemistry Tutoring
    • Study Hall – Membership Site
  • MCAT
  • About
  • Contact
Home » Resonance Structures in Organic Chemistry

Resonance Structures in Organic Chemistry

Resonance Structures in Organic Chemistry by Leah FischResonance structures are required throughout organic chemistry. You'll learn how to draw resonance early in orgo 1, and be tested on resonance intermediates in advanced orgo 2 mechanisms.

To help you take away the guesswork I've put together a brand new series taking you through the basics, starting with the question: What IS Resonance, all the way to rules, tips, tricks,  practice, and even radical resonance.

Think you've mastered it all? Jump right to my Resonance Structures Practice Quiz 

Included in this series:

  1. What is Resonance
  2. Formal Charge Formula Shortcut
  3. Key Arrow Patterns in Resonance Structures
  4. Major and Minor Resonance Structures
  5. Radical Resonance
  6. Resonance Structures of Benzene
  7. Resonance Structures Practice Solutions

Video 1 – What is Resonance?

What is Resonance - Understanding Orgo Resonance Structures Vid 1 by Leah4sciThe first step to mastery is understanding. Don't just memorize ‘these arrows move here'. Instead, make sure you get why molecules resonate to delocalize their electrons, and understand the difference between ‘resonance hybrid' and ‘resonance intermediates'. This and more is covered in Video 1 of this mini series.

Formal Charge in Resonance

formal charge equationWhen drawing resonance structures you'll have to keep an eye on the change in formal charge. But you won't have time to go through the lengthy/complex equation in your book. Instead be sure to utilize my Formal Charge Formula Shortcut.

Video 2 – Key Arrow Patterns in Resonance Structures

Key Arrow Patterns in Drawing Resonance Structures by Leah4sciNow that you have a resonance foundation, it's time to put your curved arrows to work.
They key to finding resonance structures, is knowing which electrons to move, WHERE to move them, and WHAT NOT TO DO!

Video 3 – Major and Minor Resonance Structures

Major and Minor Resonance Contributors Organic Chemistry Tutorial By Leah4sci

Not all resonance structures are created equally.
While an arrow CAN move onto a given atom, doesn't mean it WANTS to. Once you've come up with all possible resonance forms, you'll have to understand the stability of each structure to determine which are major and which are minor.

Video 4 – Radical Resonance

Radical Resonance for Allylic and Benzylic Radicals by Leah4sciWhen you think of resonance, you're likely thinking of 2 electrons as a lone pair or pi bond. But radicals, or unpaired single electrons can also participate in resonance to increase their stability.

Video 4 shows you how to draw the ‘fishhook' resonance for allylic and benzylic radical structures

Video 5 – Resonance Structures of Benzene

Benzene Resonance step by step in Video Tutorial Series by leah4sciBenzene is a unique molecule when it comes to resonance structures.

Learn how to draw its resonance, as well as resonance intermediates for substituted aromatic compounds including Electron Donating Groups which resonate into the ring and Electron Withdrawing Groups which cause resonance out of the ring.

Video 6 – Resonance Structures Practice SolutionsResonance Practice Problems for Organic Chemistry Tutorial Video

First, complete the Resonance Structures Practice Quiz, and then watch this video where I go over the first three question solutions and explanations step-by-step!

 

Having gone through this series, how do you feel about resonance structures? If you still have questions, WATCH THE SERIES AGAIN! If you feel confident then test your understanding by trying my free Resonance Structures Practice Quiz.

<– Back to the Organic Chemistry Syllabus Companion
to see what to study next!

3 Month MCAT Plan

What does a 3-month MCAT Study Plan entail? Click to Read/Download

3 month mcat study plan leah4sci

Can I help you find a topic?

Download my Free Organic Chemistry Cheat Sheets by clicking on the image below



MCAT Tutorials, Videos & More

MCAT Home Page
Scroll down for orgo resources
MCAT Math Without a Calculator
MCAT Physics
MCAT Chemistry
MCAT Biology
MCAT Biochemistry
MCAT CARS / Critical Reading
MCAT Resources, Tips & More

Organic Chemistry Tutorials & Videos

Orgo Syllabus Companion
- Gen Chem Foundation for Orgo
- Orgo Basics Foundation
- Resonance Structures
- Naming Organic Compounds
- Acids and Bases
- Newman Projections
- Chair Conformations
- Chirality and Stereochemistry
- Fischer Projections
- Intro to Mechanisms
- Alkene Reactions
- Alkyne Reactions
- Free Radical Reactions
- Substitution Elimination Reactions
- Diels Alder
- Aromaticity & Electrophilic Aromatic Substitution (EAS)
- Alcohols
- Oxidation and Reduction
- Acetal / Ketal
- Enolate Reactions
- Proton NMR Spectroscopy

Organic Chemistry Study Guide Cheat Sheets

2025 MCAT Test Dates

Click image below for test + score release dates and more

Radicals: Reactions, Stability Hybridization+

Click for New Tutorial: All about Free Radicals

Free Radicals in Organic Chemistry - Hybridization, Stability, Resonance, Reactions and Mechanism Videos

MCAT Students Come Work With Me

Work with me to figure out exactly what YOU need to ace your MCAT

Option 1: Strategy, tutorials, my help every step of the way in the MCAT Study Hall
[click for details]

Option 2 One-on-one Private MCAT Tutoring

Orgo Students: Come Work With Me

Work with me to ace your Organic Chemistry Course
Option 1: Join me for bimonthly live review/Q & A Sessions, 50+ Hours of Topic-Specific review/practice sessions, direct access to me and so much more... [click for details]

Option 2 One-on-one Private Tutoring

Organic Chemistry Reference Material and Cheat Sheets

Alkene Reactions Overview Cheat Sheet – Organic Chemistry

The true key to successful mastery of alkene reactions lies in practice practice practice. However, … [Read More...]

Click for additional cheat sheets

MCAT Tutorials

mcat math without a calculator 1 play

Introduction To MCAT Math Without A Calculator

While the pre-2015 MCAT only tests you on science and verbal, you are still required to perform … [Read More...]

Click for additional MCAT tutorials

Organic Chemistry Tutorial Videos

KET Keto enol tautomerization reaction and mechanism leah4sci

Keto Enol Tautomerization Reaction and Mechanism

Keto Enol Tautomerization or KET, is an organic chemistry reaction in which ketone and enol … [Read More...]

Click for additional orgo tutorial videos

Copyright © 2025 · Leah4Sci - All Rights Reserved. · Sitemap · Log in