Chemistry · CHEMICAL BONDING AND MOLECULAR STRUCTURE

In the resonance description of the carbonate ion (\( \text{CO}_3^{2-} \)), all three carbon-to-oxygen bonds are experimentally found to be identical. What is the formal bond order of each \( \text{C}-\text{O} \) bond in the resonance hybrid of \( \text{CO}_3^{2-} \)?

1. A
   \( 1.33 \)
2. B
   \( 1.50 \)
3. C
   \( 1.00 \)
4. D
   \( 1.67 \)