🥼organic chemistry review

Delocalized

Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025

Definition

In the context of organic chemistry, delocalization refers to the spreading out of electrons across two or more adjacent atoms, usually seen in systems with conjugated double bonds or in ions with resonance structures. Delocalization increases the stability of a molecule by allowing electrons to be shared over several atoms rather than being confined to a single bond.