Define bond length, resonance, and resonance structure.

Understanding bond length is crucial for grasping the fundamentals of molecular structure and stability. Essentially, bond length is the average distance between the nuclei of two bonded atoms. This distance is a balance point where the forces of attraction between atoms, due to the sharing or transfer of electrons, and the forces of repulsion between the negatively charged electrons are equal.

To visualize this, imagine two magnets with a certain space between them; this space adjusts until the pull of the magnets doesn't cause them to crash together, nor the distance too great that they don't feel each other's magnetic field. In atoms, the 'magnetic field' is their electron clouds and nuclear forces.

The bond length can vary depending on the nature of the bond (single, double, or triple) with shorter bonds usually being stronger. It can be measured experimentally through techniques like X-ray diffraction or estimated by computational methods.

Resonance in chemistry is a fascinating phenomenon that helps explain the behavior and stability of molecules beyond the simplicity of a single Lewis structure. It's a way to describe the electron delocalization that occurs in molecules where electrons are not restricted to a single bond or position.

Think of resonance like a team passing a ball around; no single player holds onto the ball for the entire game. Similarly, in molecules, electrons are the 'ball' being shared and distributed among atoms. Because of this distribution, molecules often achieve a lower energy state, more stability, and sometimes, different properties than what might be predicted from a single arrangement of electrons.

One classic example of resonance is seen in benzene, where the electrons in the double bonds are not fixed, but rather resonate or 'shuffle' between different positions creating an equal distribution around the ring.

Diving into resonance structures gives an insight into possible configurations electrons can take within a molecule. These structures are different snapshots of where the electrons might be at any given time.

In drawing resonance structures, it's essential to understand that these are not real, separate entities. Instead, they are hypothetical, diagrammatic representations that collectively describe the actual, observed structure, which is often more stable than any individual resonance structure might suggest.

To go back to our previous team analogy, if each resonance structure were a player holding the ball, then the actual molecule would be the team in action - fluid, dynamic, and more effective than any player on their own. It's this concept of electron delocalization captured by multiple resonance structures that contributes to the unique properties and reactivity patterns of molecular systems.