Question

Question 44

Explain why $C{O}_3^{2-}$ ion cannot be represented by a single Lewis structure. How can it be best represented?

Answer 1

A single Lewis structure of $C{O}_3^{2-}$ ion cannot explain all the properties of this ion. It can be represented as a resonance hybrid of the following structures.

If it were represented only by one structure, there should be two types of bonds, i.e., C = O double bond and C - O single bonds but actually all bonds are found to be identical with same bond length and same bond strength.