Explain why CO_(3)^(2-) ion cannot be represented by a single Lewis structure. How canit be best represented ?

Explain why CO_(3)^(2-) ion cannot be represented by a single Lewis st

1.	Explain why CO_(3)^(2-) ion cannot be represented by a single Lewis structure. How canit be best represented ?
Answer» Solution :A single Lewis streucture of `CO_(3)^(2-)` ION connot explain all the properites of this ion. It can be represented as aresonance hybrid of the following structures : If it were represented only by one structer, there should be two TYPES of bonds, i.e., C= Odouble bond and C-O single bonds but ACTUALLY all bonds are foundto be IDENTICAL with same bond length and same bond strenth.