resonance energy 

https://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.R05333
The difference in potential energy between the actual molecular entity and the contributing structure of lowest potential energy. The resonance energy cannot be measured, but only estimated, since contributing structures are not observable molecular entities.
See: contributing structure, molecular entity, resonance
Source:
PAC, 1994, 66, 1077. (Glossary of terms used in physical organic chemistry (IUPAC Recommendations 1994)) on page 1161 [Terms] [Paper]
Citation: 'resonance energy' in IUPAC Compendium of Chemical Terminology, 5th ed. International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry; 2025. Online version 5.0.0, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.R05333 RIS BibTex EndNote
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Last revised: February 24, 2014