Question

For the carbonate ion, CO3 2− 1- Draw the electron orbital diagram for the valence electrons of the central carbon before and after hybridization. 2- identify which carbon and oxygen electron orbitals overlap to create each single and double C-O bond in the structure

Answer 1

See explanation below

Step-by-step explanation:

Carbon has four electrons in its outermost shell. The CO3^2- anion is found to be in the trigonal planar geometry. For a carbon atom in the trigonal planar geometry, the carbon is sp2 hybridized. This implies that an s orbital mixes with two p orbitals to yield the hybrid orbitals in the ion.

Carbon forms three double bonds to three oxygen atoms using these hybrid sp2 orbitals. Recall that the actual bonding in each C-O linkage lies between that of a pure C-O single bond and C-O double bonds.

Note that there are two p orbitals and one s orbital participating in this hybridization hence three hybrid orbitals are expected to be formed.