How do you use the Lewis dot structure to represent hydrogen carbonate?

Question

Paisley Boney · Accepted Answer

The formal charge lies on the oxygen atom.

The carbonate dianion may be represented as #(O=)C(-O^(-))_2#, with a formal negative charge on 2 oxygen atoms. Introduce an hydrogen ion, carbonate becomes bicarbonate, and the Lewis structure is #(O=)C(-O^(-))(OH)#. There are 24 valence electrons involved in the bonding: 4 from carbon; 18 from oxygen; and 1 each from the negative charge and hydrogen. What geometrical prediction do you have for the region surrounding the central carbon?

Elias Aguila · Answer

undefined To represent hydrogen carbonate using Lewis dot structure, you would place one carbon atom in the center, surrounded by three oxygen atoms. Each oxygen atom should be bonded to the carbon atom with a single bond, and each oxygen atom should have two lone pairs of electrons. Additionally, there should be one hydrogen atom bonded to one of the oxygen atoms. This arrangement will show all the valence electrons and the bonds in the molecule.