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Chemistry Forums for Students => High School Chemistry Forum => Topic started by: Avi44 on September 15, 2005, 04:46:58 PM

Title: Polyatomic ions VS normal compounds
Post by: Avi44 on September 15, 2005, 04:46:58 PM

This may be a stupid question, but whats the structural difference between carbonate ion (CO3)^-2 and Carbon Trioxide (CO3). And whats the difference between Carbon Dioxide (CO2) and the polyatomic ion Carbonite, (CO2)^-2  ???

Title: Re:Polyatomic ions VS normal compounds
Post by: oldddog on September 16, 2005, 12:25:44 AM

Not a stupid question at all. Carbon trioxide is definetly not a common molecule and requires extremely low temperatures to form. It is a cyclic isomer that is formed between carbon dioxide and an oxygen atom. The carbonate ion is a planar trigonal ion with carbon as the central atom and is relatively stable. And I don't know anything about carbonite (except of cause from Star Wars were it is used to "freeze" Hans Solo).