Question

Define formal charge of an atom.

Answer 1

In chemistry, a formal charge (FC) is the charge assigned to an atom in a molecule, assuming that electrons in all chemical bonds are shared equally between atoms, regardless of relative electronegativity.

Answer 2

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☘ The formal charge is a factor based on a pure covalent view of bonding in which electron pairs are shared equally by neighbouring atoms

❁ Lewis Dot Structures, in general do not represent actual shapes of the molecules .

❁ In case of polyatomic Ions, the net charge is possessed by the ion as a whole and not by a particular atom .

❁ It is however, feasible to assign a formal charge on each atom .

❁ The formal charge of an atom in a polyatomic molecule Ion may be defined as the difference between the number of Valence Electrons of that atom in an isolated or free state and the number of electrons assigned to that atom in the Lewis structure .

❁ Formal charges help in the selection of lowest energy structure from a number of possible Lewis structures for a given species .