mesomerism
This term is a specialized technical expression used almost exclusively within the field of organic chemistry. It describes the delocalization of electrons within a molecule, where a single Lewis structure is insufficient to represent the actual electronic state, necessitating the use of multiple contributing structures.
In modern chemical discourse, "mesomerism" is frequently used interchangeably with "resonance." While "resonance" is the more common term in global academic literature, "mesomerism" remains prevalent in specific European chemical traditions and textbooks to describe the same phenomenon of electronic distribution.
Meanings
The phenomenon in chemistry where a single molecule is represented by two or more contributing structures, known as resonance structures, to accurately describe its electronic distribution.
The stability of the benzene ring is explained by mesomerism.