Question

Hybridisation of carbon atom in $C{O}_3^{2-}$ is

• A. $sp$
• B. $s{p}^2$
• C. $s{p}^3$
• D. $\text{None of these}$

Answer 1

The correct option is B

$s{p}^2$

The carbonate ion, $C{O}_3^{2-}$ , is coplanar (bond angle: ${120}^{\circ })$ and is considered to be a reasonance hybrid of the following canonical forms

In resonance hybrid of $C{O}_3^{2-}$ ion, the three carbon-oxygen bonds are having the same bond length which means that each bond has one-third double bond character.
The carbon atom is $C{O}_3^{2-}$ ion in $s{p}^2$ hybridised due to which the bond angle is ${120}^{\circ }$.