Final answer:
The nitrate ion (NO₃⁻) typically carries a higher formal charge on its oxygen atoms compared to the carbonate ion (CO₃²⁻) due to its charge distribution.
Step-by-step explanation:
- The question asks which has a greater formal charge on its oxygen atoms, the carbonate ion in calcium carbonate or the nitrate ion in ammonium nitrate.
- The carbonate ion (CO₃²⁻) has three oxygen atoms with a total charge of -2, which is spread over the three atoms through resonance, meaning each oxygen atom has a formal charge of about -2/3.
- In contrast, the nitrate ion (NO) has a -1 charge distributed among three oxygen atoms and typically, one oxygen carries the full -1 charge with a double bond to nitrogen, while the others have a formal charge of 0.
- Therefore, comparing the formal charge of the individual oxygen atoms in each ion, the oxygen atoms in the nitrate ion generally have a higher formal charge.