Explain why CO32- ion cannot

Question:

Explain why CO32- ion cannot be represented by a single Lewis structure. How can it be best represented?

Solution:

Solution:

Carbonate ion is present in the form of a resonating hybrid structure. These structures are equivalent. Resonance all 3 C-O bonds get a double character in one of the resonating structures.

Thus, all the bonds are equivalent and have equal length hence carbonate ion cannot be represented by a single Lewis structure.

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