Question

Which of the following is expected to be true in the carbonate ion, CO32-?

a. The carbon atom does not have an octet.
b. The carbon to oxygen bond lengths are the consistent with single bonds.
c. The carbon to oxygen bond lengths are the consistent with double bonds.
d. The carbon to oxygen bonds are shorter than single bonds but longer than double bonds.

Answer 1

In the carbonate ion, the carbon atom forms a double bond with one oxygen atom, while the remaining oxygen atoms have single bonds with the carbon atom. The actual arrangement of electrons in the carbonate ion is an average of three resonance structures.

Step-by-step explanation:

In the carbonate ion, CO32-, the actual arrangement of electrons is an average of three resonance structures. The carbon atom forms a double bond with one of the oxygen atoms, and the remaining oxygen atoms have single bonds with the carbon atom. Experimentally, all three carbon-oxygen bonds in the carbonate ion are identical in length, indicating that they are not purely double or single bonds.