Octet Rule vs. Formal Charge

Moderators: Chem_Mod, Chem_Admin

Blake_Panter_3D
Posts: 21
Joined: Wed Sep 21, 2016 2:56 pm
Been upvoted: 1 time

Octet Rule vs. Formal Charge

Postby Blake_Panter_3D » Mon Oct 24, 2016 11:24 pm

When drawing Lewis Dot Structures, is it preferred by a molecule to have all of the atoms have an octet, or for all of the formal charges to be 0, if you cannot have both? For example, for the Lewis Structure of BrO-, why is there only a single bond between the two atoms with the formal charge of O being -1 when it could be 0 if there was a double bond, making Br have an expanded octet?

Vista_Farkhondeh_3O
Posts: 26
Joined: Tue Jul 12, 2016 3:00 am

Re: Octet Rule vs. Formal Charge

Postby Vista_Farkhondeh_3O » Mon Oct 24, 2016 11:28 pm

I believe the first priority is to make sure the formal charge is zero. Then, if you are able to form octets without compromising the formal charge you should do so.


Return to “Lewis Structures”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 7 guests