Definition of delocalize transitive verb : to free from the limitations of locality specifically : to remove (a charge or charge carrier) from a particular position
Full Answer
What does delocalized mean in chemistry?
In chemistry, delocalized electrons are electrons in a molecule, ion or solid metal that are not associated with a single atom or a covalent bond. The term delocalization is general and can have slightly different meanings in different fields. In organic chemistry, this refers to resonance in conjugated systems and aromatic compounds.
What does delocalization mean?
Delocalization. Delocalization is central feature of molecular orbital theory where rather than the lone pair of electrons contained in localize bonds (as in the valence bond theory), electrons can exist in molecular orbitals that are spread over the entire molecule. Likewise, people ask, what does it mean for a lone pair to be delocalized?
Is delocalization a driving force in chemistry?
It is shown that only atoms that form weak two-electron bonds with low triplet excitation energies may generate delocalized species that are stable toward a localizing distortion. Electronic delocalization is, then, seldom expected to be a significant driving force in chemistry.
What are delocalized electrons Quizlet?
electrons that are restricted to a particular region, like electrons of a single bond or electrons that are confined between 2 atoms Delocalized electrons electrons that are neither restricted to a single atom nor confined to a bond between 2 atoms, like the pi electrons of benzene (C6H6)
What does it mean when something is delocalized?
: to free from the limitations of locality specifically : to remove (a charge or charge carrier) from a particular position.
What does delocalized mean in chemistry?
“A delocalised electron is an electron in an atom, ion, or molecule that is not connected to a single atom or covalent bond.” Delocalised electrons in a ring structure are represented by a circle rather than single and double bonds. This means that the electrons could be anywhere along with the chemical bond.
What does delocalization mean in organic chemistry?
Electron delocalization (delocalization): Distribution of electron density beyond a fixed place such as a single atom, lone pair, or covalent bond via resonance or inductive effects. The oxygen lone pairs of ethoxide ion are not delocalized.
What does it mean when an electron becomes delocalized?
A delocalized electron is an electron in an atom, ion, or molecule not associated with any single atom or a single covalent bond. In a ring structure, delocalized electrons are indicated by drawing a circle rather than single and double bonds.
How do you know if electrons are delocalized?
The easiest way to spot delocalized electrons is to compare electron locations in two resonance forms. If a pair appears in one place in one form, and in a different place in another form, the pair is delocalized.
What is meant by delocalized bond?
A delocalized bond can be thought of as a chemical bond that appears in some resonance structures of the molecule, but not in others. The electrons that belong to a delocalised bond cannot be associated with a single atom or a covalent bond.
What is another word for Delocalised?
displacement, transfer, Outsourcing, outposting.
What type of molecules show delocalization?
Delocalized electrons also exist in the structure of solid metals. Metallic structure consists of aligned positive ions (cations) in a "sea" of delocalized electrons. This means that the electrons are free to move throughout the structure, and gives rise to properties such as conductivity.
Why do electrons become delocalized in metals?
The electrons can move freely within these molecular orbitals, and so each electron becomes detached from its parent atom. The electrons are said to be delocalized. The metal is held together by the strong forces of attraction between the positive nuclei and the delocalized electrons (Figure 1).
What is difference between delocalization and resonance?
The key difference between delocalization and resonance is that delocalization refers to the electrons being distributed throughout the entire area of a molecule rather than attached to a single molecule whereas resonance refers to the stabilization of a molecule due to delocalization of electrons.
Why does delocalization occur in benzene?
Because the electrons are no longer held between just two carbon atoms, but are spread over the whole ring, the electrons are said to be delocalised. The six delocalised electrons go into three molecular orbitals - two in each.
It's an electron not associated with a single atom or covalent bond
Dr. Helmenstine holds a Ph.D. in biomedical sciences and is a science writer, educator, and consultant. She has taught science courses at the high school, college, and graduate levels.
Examples
In a benzene molecule, for example, the electrical forces on the electrons are uniform across the molecule. The delocalization produces what is called a resonance structure .
What are Delocalized Electrons?
Delocalized electrons are the nonbonding electrons in chemical compounds. This term refers to electrons that are not associated with a single atom or a covalent bond. However, the term delocalized electron has different meanings in different fields. For example, in organic chemistry, delocalized electrons are in the resonance structures of conjugated systems in aromatic compounds. In solid-state physics, delocalized electrons are the free electrons that facilitate electrical conduction. Moreover, quantum physics use the term delocalized electrons to refer to molecular orbital electrons that have extended over several atoms.
What is the difference between delocalized and localized electrons?
The key difference between localized and delocalized electrons is that localized electrons are located between atoms, whereas delocalized electrons are located above and below the atoms. Moreover, delocalized electrons are associated with particular atoms in a compound while the delocalized electrons are associated with all the atoms in ...
Delocalized
"Acid more readily loses H+ if resulting anion is stabilized by resonance and/or electron withdrawing atoms which delocalize and stabilize the negative charge."
Re: Delocalized
Delocalization of electrons means that the electron density will be better evenly spread out throughout the molecule instead of being pulled to one particular area. This allows for more stability, as it would be less reactive with other charged molecules if the electron density more evenly distributed.
Re: Delocalized
When a charge is delocalized, it basically means that it is spread out throughout the species rather than restricted to a certain area.
Re: Delocalized
Withdraw electron density comes from electronegativity, which can be described as a pulling power of electrons. When one atom has higher electronegativity than another in the same molecule, the one with higher electronegativity will better pull electrons towards it; it would also then be harder to remove electrons from this atom.
Re: Delocalized
I am still a little confused as to what causes delocalization in an atom or molecule? What could change an unstable molecule with uneven electron distribution into a stable one?
Re: Delocalized
Joshua Eidam 3D wrote: I am still a little confused as to what causes delocalization in an atom or molecule? What could change an unstable molecule with uneven electron distribution into a stable one?
Lone Pairs and Resonance Stabilization
Before we classify the lone pairs of electrons as localized or delocalized, let’s answer a quick question about resonance structures: Which of the following represents a correct transformation between the two resonance structures?
Localized and Delocalized Lone Pairs
Now, leaving aside the chemical terminology, in simpler words, one pair of electrons can move around, while the other pair cannot. These electrons belong to only one atom – they are localized. The ones that can move around are delocalized – they can be placed on one atom but it can also be shared between that and the neighboring atom, i.e.
Hybridization and Delocalization
Now that we have learned how to classify electrons are localized or delocalized, let’s understand the geometry of the elements participating in delocalization. One of to visualize delocalization is that electrons flow though the orbitals of adjacent atoms. These electrons can be non-bonding (lone pairs) or bonding electrons.
