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Formal Charge

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    The formal charge on an atom in a covalent species is the net charge the atom would bear if the electrons in all the bonds to the atom were equally shared. Alternatively the formal charge on an atom in a covalent species is the net charge the atom would bear if all bonds to the atom were nonpolar covalent bonds. To determine the formal charge on a given atom in a covalent species, use the following formula:

    formalcharge1.png

    eg. 1: Carbon Atom in CH4

    formalcharge2.png

    eg. 2: Carbon Atom in CH3

    formalcharge3.png

    eg. 3: Carbon Atom in :CH3

    formalcharge4.png

    see also coordination number, oxidation number

    This page titled Formal Charge is shared under a All Rights Reserved (used with permission) license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Gamini Gunawardena via source content that was edited to the style and standards of the LibreTexts platform; a detailed edit history is available upon request.

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