Which of the following factors cause an increase in molecule stability as indicated in the mnemonic?

• A. Charge, Size, Polarity, Electronegativity
• B. Resonance, Induction, Size, Electronegativity
• C. Induction, Propagation, Resonance, Charge
• D. Stability, Resonance, Electronegativity, Size

Answer: (B)

The factors that contribute to an increase in molecular stability include resonance, induction, size, and electronegativity.

Resonance refers to the ability of a molecule to be represented by two or more valid Lewis structures, which allows electrons to be delocalized. This delocalization minimizes energy and gives molecules greater stability because the positive and negative charges can be spread out over a larger area rather than being localized on a single atom.

Induction is the electron-withdrawing or donating effect that occurs when one atom or group in a molecule influences the electron density of neighboring atoms. This effect can stabilize or destabilize molecules depending on the context, but generally, electron-withdrawing groups can stabilize negative charges, while electron-donating groups can enhance the stability of positive charges.

Size also plays a significant role; larger atoms can better accommodate negative charge because of their increased volume and ability to distribute charge over a larger electron cloud, thereby stabilizing the molecule.

Electronegativity affects the distribution of electron density in bonds. When more electronegative atoms are involved in a molecule, they can create polar covalent bonds that can lead to additional stabilization through dipole-dipole interactions or through stabilizing charges in ions.

Together, these concepts