Final Answer:
The chemical formula of the acetate polyatomic ion is C₂H₃O₂⁻. It consists of two carbon atoms, three hydrogen atoms, and two oxygen atoms. The charge of the acetate ion is -1.
Step-by-step explanation:
The acetate ion is a polyatomic ion with the chemical formula C₂H₃O₂⁻. It consists of two carbon (C) atoms, three hydrogen (H) atoms, and two oxygen (O) atoms. The molecular structure of acetate features a central carbon atom bonded to two other carbon atoms, forming a chain.
One oxygen atom is double-bonded to a carbon atom, while another oxygen atom is singly bonded, and the third oxygen atom carries a negative charge. The overall charge of the acetate ion is -1, denoted by the superscript.
Acetate ions are commonly found in various chemical compounds, including salts and esters, and they participate in chemical reactions, often acting as a negatively charged moiety.