Acetate ion
Charge: 1- · Type: Polyatomic anion · Molar mass: 59.044 g/mol
Made of: carbon, hydrogen, oxygen
How it forms
Acetic acid loses its acidic proton to leave CH3COO-. Resonance spreads the negative charge evenly over the two oxygen atoms, which makes acetate a stable, weak base.
Naming note
C2H3O2- is the acetate ion, also written CH3COO-. Its salts are acetates, and its esters give fruits and glues their smells.
Examples in compounds
Sodium acetate
Calcium acetate
Lead(II) acetate