The dianion of oxalic acid (oxalate ion, $C_{2} O_{4}^{2} -$ ) is a resonance hybrid. How many equivalent resonance structures, each with one $C = O$ and one $O^{-}$ on each carbon, can be written for it ?

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TestHub · Accepted Answer

Each carboxylate group has two ways of placing the C = O and the O − (2 choices). The two groups are independent, so there are 2 x 2 = 4 equivalent structures.

Chemistry - GOC Question with Solution | TestHub

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