Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Resonance
Resonance in organic chemistry refers to the delocalization of electrons across adjacent atoms in a molecule, which can be represented by multiple valid Lewis structures. These structures, known as resonance forms, depict the same molecule but with different arrangements of electrons, helping to illustrate the stability provided by electron delocalization.
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Carbanion
A carbanion is an anion in which carbon has an unshared pair of electrons and bears a negative charge. Carbanions are typically formed by the removal of a proton from a carbon atom, and their stability is influenced by factors such as resonance, inductive effects, and the hybridization of the carbon atom bearing the negative charge.
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Deprotonation
Deprotonation is the removal of a proton (H⁺) from a molecule, resulting in the formation of a conjugate base. In the context of acetonitrile, deprotonation by a strong base leads to the formation of a carbanion, which can be stabilized through resonance, as the negative charge can be delocalized over the molecule.
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