Chemistry I / Lewis Structures, Formal Charge and Resonance
Practice question · Numerical answer

How many valence electrons must a Lewis structure of the carbonate ion, CO32\mathrm{CO_3^{2-}}, account for in total?

Hints
  1. Add the valence electrons of every atom, then adjust for the charge.
  2. Carbon gives 4, each oxygen 6, and the 2- charge adds 2 more.
Show the answer

24

Why

4+3×6=224 + 3 \times 6 = 22 from the atoms, plus 2 for the 22- charge, giving 24 valence electrons to place.

Read the lesson: Lewis Structures, Formal Charge and Resonance →

Practise Lewis Structures, Formal Charge and Resonance

The app has 5 more questions on this lesson, and keeps your place in the course. Chemistry I is free to start.

More questions on Lewis Structures, Formal Charge and Resonance