Molecular Resonance Through Systemic Functional Linguistics [2]

Gribbin (1988: 130):

… spectroscopic studies show quite clearly that ozone molecules are held together by two equal bonds, each equivalent to a bond strength of 1.5 [instead of one single bond and one double bond].  The explanation is that the 'real' structure is a resonance between the two possibilities … a hybrid structure like the hybridisation which gives us the sp³ orbitals in the carbon atom.

Blogger Comments:

From the perspective of Systemic Functional Linguistic theory, the one single and one double bond between oxygen atoms in the ozone molecule constitute the potential of the ozone molecule as a whole, and so apply equally to both chemical bonds, yielding the "hybrid" potentials of each bond.