Question

Carbonate = CO₃²⁻. What number is in the carbon location on the left figure, and what does this number refer to?

a) 3, number of oxygen atoms
b) 2, charge of the ion
c) 4, number of carbon atoms
d) 1, atomic number of carbon

Answer 1

The number in the carbon location represents the atomic number of carbon, which is 1. This indicates that carbon has 1 proton in its nucleus.

Step-by-step explanation:

The number in the carbon location on the left figure of the carbonate ion (CO₃²⁻) is 1, which refers to the atomic number of carbon. Carbon has an atomic number of 6, indicating that it has 6 protons in its nucleus.