level: Formal Charge
Questions and Answers List
level questions: Formal Charge
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| formal charge | the hypothetical charge if all bonding e- were shared 100% equally |
| equation for formal charge | formal charge = # of VE - # of non-bonding e- - 1/2(# of bonding e-) |
| formal charge must be calculated... | for each individual atom in the structure |
| guideline 1 of formal charge and Lewis dot structures | any structure where 1+ atom has less than a full octet is low quality |
| guideline 2 of formal charge and Lewis dot structures | structures with a formal charge of 0 across the board are better |
| guideline 3 of formal charge and Lewis dot structures | structures with a formal charge of smaller magnitude are better |
| guideline 4 for formal charge and Lewis dot structures | more negative formal charge should be on the more electronegative atom |