why is the formula for acetate is Ch3COO. SInce it has 2 atoms of oxygen, can't we write it as CH3CO2?
Open in App
Solution
Yes, you are absolutely right that the formula for acetate is CH3COO-. Yes it has 2 atoms of oxygen but we can't write it because CH3CO2 will suggest as the carbon dioxide molecule attached to CH3 but not carboxylic group derivative . Moreover it is an acetate ion not just acetate .
Hence we write CH3COO-