How do you calculate formal charge of an atom?

1 Answer
anor277
Aug 3, 2016

The formal charge is the difference between #Z#, the atomic number of the atom, and the number of electrons, bonding and non-bonding, that surround that atom.

Explanation:

Our conception of formal charge goes back to the old idea that in a covalent bond, the electrons are shared. Where there is a lone pair, for instance on #N# or #O#, the charge devolve solely to that atom,

See this old answer, and also here.

Related questions
See all questions in Net Charge
Impact of this question
1511 views around the world
You can reuse this answer
Creative Commons License