Achieve Homework #3, Question #5

[trishaferrer]

Hello! Is it okay if I could get help with this? Thanks!

[Nika Kononov 3E]

To calculate formal charge for an atom use this formula:
formal charge = valence electrons - lone electrons - shared electrons/2

The structure that has the smallest formal charges will be the best resonance structure to represent the molecule. You also have to keep in mind that certain atoms (such as oxygen) are more likely to have a negative formal charge than other atoms (such as carbon).

[Nathan Tran 1B]

Hi just wanted to make a correction on the reply above, the structure with the most amount of formal charges equal to zero is the most stable and thus be the best representative resonance structure not the one with the smallest formal charge.