When a negatively charged species is most appropriately depicted as a hybrid of several resonance forms, the negative charge present is considered to be rapidly moving between the resonance forms bearing the formal negative charge.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The negative charge is not actually moving between the resonance forms; rather, resonance forms are a way to depict the delocalization of the charge across the molecule, indicating that the actual electronic structure is a hybrid of all the resonance forms.

When a Negatively Charged Species Is Most Appropriately Depicted as a Hybrid