Question

Select the true statements regarding the resonance structures of formate.

HCO2

Check all that apply:

Each oxygen atom has a double bond 50% of the time.

The actual structure of formate is an average of the two resonance forms.

Each carbon-oyxgen bond is somewhere between a single and double bond.

The actual structure of formate switches back and forth between the two resonance forms.

Answer 1

Did you omit the charge; should it be HCO2^-
1 is not true. 4 is not true. Both 2 and 3 are true.

Answer 2

are

Answer 3

The actual structure of formate is an average of the two resonance forms. Thus, each carbon–oxygen bond is somewhere between a single and a double bond.

Two and four are right.

Answer 4

Sorry. Two and three.