Question

Select the true statements regarding resonance structure of formate.

1.The actual structure of formate switches back and forth between the two resonance forms.
2. Each carbon-oxygen bond is somewhere between a single and a double bond.
3.Each oxygen atom has a double bond 50% of the time.
4. The actual structure of formate is an average of the two resonance forms

Answer 1

Each carbon-oxygen bond is somewhere between a single and a double bond.

Step-by-step explanation:

The resonance structures are the structures which are drawn to justify the property of any compound or ion, as it cannot be described by a single structure.

The correct statement is: Each carbon-oxygen bond is somewhere between a single and a double bond.

The actual structure is a hybrid of the two resonating structures (shown in figure). Thus it is incorrect to say that he actual structure of formate is an average of the two resonance forms

It is incorrect to say that The actual structure of formate switches back and forth between the two resonance forms.

The oxygen forms one bond and has three lone pair of electrons in one structure and two bonds and two lone pair of electrons in other structure.

Thus we can say that it is again incorrect to say that 3.Each oxygen atom has a double bond 50% of the time.