Answer to Question #179747 in General Chemistry for bob

Question

Which of the molecules and polyatomic ions cannot be adequately described using a single Lewis structure?

NH

+

4

NH4+

CO

2−

3

CO32−

O

3

O3

CH

2

Cl

2

CH2Cl2

HCN

HCN

OF

2

Answer 1

Among the given options, O₃O₃ and CO₂^-3CO₃^2-

 show resonance and thus cannot be represented by a single Lewis structure.