question_answer 3)

Explain the structure of \[CO_{3}^{2-}\] ion in terms of resonance.

Answer:

The electron dot structure of \[CO_{3}^{2-}\] ion is given below: This structure shows that it has one double bond and two single bonds, i.e., it has unequal bonds. However, it has been experimentally confirmed that all the carbon to oxygen bonds in Chemical Bonding and Molecular Structure \[CO_{3}^{2-}\] ion are equivalent. Therefore, the carbonate ion is best described as a resonance hybrid of the given canonical forms.