Which of the following is the most important factor in determining the most appropriate resonance structure?
The formal charges on the atoms in the molecule.
The number of unpaired and paired electrons in the molecule.
The energy of the contributing structures.
The relative position of the atoms in the molecule.
The formal charges on the atoms in the molecule are the most important factor in determining the most appropriate resonance structure. This is because the formal charges reflect the relative electronegativities of the atoms in the molecule.