[Avi44]

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  

[oldddog]

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).