What is the angle between the carbon-oxygen bonds in the carbonate (CO_3^(2-)) ion?

1 Answer
anor277
Jun 30, 2017

/_O-C-O-=120^@........

Explanation:

The central carbon atom is surrounded by 3xxsigma bonds, and a C-O pi bond, that is conceived to be delocalized around the oxygen centres:

O=C(-O)_2^(-)

Electron counting means that we have to distribute 24 electrons around the oxygens and carbon, and this gives a trigonal plane around the central carbon.

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