Question
Explain the term formal charge.

Answer

i. Formal charge is the charge assigned to an atom in a molecule, assuming that all electrons are shared equally between atoms, regardless of their relative electronegativities.
ii. While determining the best Lewis structure per molecule, the structure is chosen such that the formal charge is as close to zero as possible.
iii. The structure having the lowest formal charge has the lowest energy.
iv. Formal charge is assigned to an atom based on electron dot structures of the molecule/ion.
v. Formal charge on an atom in a Lewis structure of a polyatomic species can be determined using the following formula:

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