Lesson 14: Formal Charge

Lesson Objective:
Use formal charge to determine the preferred Lewis
structure of some molecules and ions.
 Formal Charge
Sometimes more than one Lewis structure can be drawn for the same species which
all obey the octet rule.

To decide which Lewis structure to draw, the formal charge of the atoms in the
species is determined.

FC =
(number of valence electrons) – ½ (number bonding electrons) – (number of non-bonding electrons)

In the molecule CCl4 the formal charge on each atom is:

FC (C) = (4) – ½ (8) – 0 = 0

FC (Cl) = (7) – ½ (2) – 6 = 0

If there is more than one Lewis structure which obeys the octet, the most reasonable
structure would be:

1.The one the FC difference (∆FC = FCmax – FCmin) closest to 0.

2.The one which has negative charges located on the most electronegative atoms.
Formal Charge on the Carbonate ion

In the carbonate anions the formal charge on each atom is:

FC (C) = (number of valence electrons) – ½ (number bonding electrons) – (number of

non-bonding electrons)

FC (OA) = (number of valence electrons) – ½ (number bonding electrons) – (number of

non-bonding electrons)

FC (OB) = (number of valence electrons) – ½ (number bonding electrons) – (number of

non-bonding electrons)
Formal Charge on the Carbonate ion

In the carbonate anions the formal charge on each atom is:

FC (C) = (number of valence electrons) – ½ (number bonding electrons) – (number of

non-bonding electrons)
= (4) - ½ (8) – 0 = 0

FC (OA) = (number of valence electrons) – ½ (number bonding electrons) – (number of

non-bonding electrons)

FC (OB) = (number of valence electrons) – ½ (number bonding electrons) – (number of

non-bonding electrons)
Formal Charge on the Carbonate ion

In the carbonate anions the formal charge on each atom is:

FC (C) = (number of valence electrons) – ½ (number bonding electrons) – (number of

non-bonding electrons)
= (4) - ½ (8) – 0 = 0

FC (OA) = (number of valence electrons) – ½ (number bonding electrons) – (number of

non-bonding electrons)
= (6) – ½ (4) – 4 = 0

FC (OB) = (number of valence electrons) – ½ (number bonding electrons) – (number of

non-bonding electrons)
Formal Charge on the Carbonate ion

In the carbonate anions the formal charge on each atom is:

FC (C) = (number of valence electrons) – ½ (number bonding electrons) – (number of

non-bonding electrons)
= (4) - ½ (8) – 0 = 0

FC (OA) = (number of valence electrons) – ½ (number bonding electrons) – (number of

non-bonding electrons)
= (6) – ½ (4) – 4 = 0

FC (OB) = (number of valence electrons) – ½ (number bonding electrons) – (number of

non-bonding electrons)
= (6) – ½ (2) – 6 = -1
Formal Charge on the Phosphate ion, PO43-

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 Carbon Dioxide (CO2)
Carbon has 4 valence electrons. Each oxygen has 6
valence electrons, therefore our Lewis structure of CO2
will have 16 electrons.

–Both structures fulfill the octet rule.

–Which one is true?
–Use formal charge to determine
– Which structure is correct? In general, when several Lewis
structures can be drawn the most stable structure is the one in
which:
• The formal charges are the smallest
• Any negative charge is found on the most electronegative atom
– In the case of CO2, the second structure is the
one with the smallest formal charges (i.e. 0 on
all the atoms).
– Furthermore, in the first possible Lewis
structure, the carbon has a formal charge of 0
and one of the oxygens it is bonded to has a
formal charge of +1.
– Oxygen is more electronegative than Carbon,
so this situation would seem unlikely.
 Task 1: Lewis Structure of Boron trifluoride, BF3

Boron trifluoride has two possible Lewis structures. Using Formal

Charge, suggest which one is preferred over the other.

FC (B) =
FC (B) =
FC (FA) =
FC (F) =
FC (FB) =
Task 2: Lewis Structure of Dinitrogen Oxide, N2O
(also known as nitrous oxide – laughing gas)
Below are two alternative structures for the dinitrogen oxide
molecule, N2O. Based on formal charge considerations, explain
which Lewis structure is preferred.
Task 3: Lewis Structure of the Cyanate ion, OCN-
Below are three alternative Lewis structures for the
cyanate anion, OCN-. Based on formal charge
considerations, explain which Lewis structure is
preferred.
Task 1 Answer: Lewis Structure of Boron trifluoride, BF 3

Boron trifluoride has two possible Lewis structures. Using Formal

Charge, suggest which one is preferred over the other.

FC (B) = 3 – ½ (8) – 0 = -1
FC (B) = 3 – ½ (6) – 0 = 0
FC (FA) = 7 – ½ (4) – 4 = +1
FC (F) = 7 – ½ (2) – 6 = 0
FC (FB) = 7 – ½ (2) – 6 = 0

Therefore the one on the left is preferred.

Task 2 Answer : Lewis Structure of Dinitrogen Oxide, N 2O
(also known as nitrous oxide – laughing gas)
Below are two alternative structures for the dinitrogen oxide
molecule, N2O. Based on formal charge considerations, explain
which Lewis structure is preferred.

For molecule A: For molecule B:

FC (NA) = 5 – ½ (4) – 4 = -1 FC (NA) = 5 – ½ (4) – 4 = -1
FC (NB) = 5 – ½ (8) – 0 = +1 FC (NB) = 5 – ½ (4) – 4 = -1
FC (O) = 6 – ½ (4) – 4 = 0 FC (O) = 6 – ½ (8) – 0 = +2
Molecule A is preferred because of its lower formal charges and a
+2 charge on any oxygen atom would seem unrealistic.
Task 3 Answer: Lewis Structure of the Cyanate ion, OCN -
Below are three alternative Lewis structures for the
cyanate anion, OCN-. Based on formal charge
considerations, explain which Lewis structure is
preferred.

For molecule A: For molecule B: For molecule C:

FC (O) = 6 – ½ (6) – 2 = +1 FC (O) = 6 – ½ (4) – 4 = 0 FC (O) = 6 – ½ (2) – 6 = -1
FC (C) = 4 – ½ (8) – 0 = 0 FC (C) = 4 – ½ (8) – 0 = 0 FC (C) = 4 – ½ (8) – 0 = 0
FC (N) = 5 – ½ (2) – 6 = -2 FC (N) = 5 – ½ (4) – 4 = -1 FC (N) = 5 – ½ (6) – 2 = 0

Molecule C is preferred because of its lower formal charges than A and a -1

would seem more realistic on an oxygen atom rather than a nitrogen atom.