Question 2.2: Drawing Resonance Forms for an Anion Draw three resonance fo...

Drawing Resonance Forms for an Anion

Draw three resonance forms for the carbonate ion, CO_{3}^{2-}.

Strategy
Look for three-atom groupings that contain a multiple bond next to an atom with a p orbital. Then exchange the positions of the multiple bond and the electrons in the p orbital. In the carbonate ion, each of the singly bonded oxygen atoms with its lone pairs and negative charge is next to the C=O double bond, giving the grouping O=C–O:^{-} .

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Exchanging the position of the double bond and an electron lone pair in each grouping generates three resonance structures:

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