Resonance structures are important in chemistry and physics as they explain the stability of molecules and ions. The concept of resonance can be a little confusing, but essentially it means that two or more structures can be drawn for a molecule or ion that show different arrangements of the electrons. Synonyms for resonance structure include canonical structure, contributing structure, and Lewis structure. In organic chemistry, resonance is often used to describe the delocalization of electrons in a molecule, which helps to explain some of the unusual properties of certain compounds. Overall, understanding the principle of resonance is essential in many areas of science and technology.