$FC=V-(L+\frac{S}{2})$

FCervania 1B
Posts: 14
Joined: Wed Jun 28, 2017 3:00 am

Hello,
I was looking at the SO4 Lewis Diagrams on page 82 of the course reader, and was wondering how exactly it was determined that Structure B is a more stable structure. I understand later we learned that double bonds are stronger, but if all we have was the bonds to electrons, then don't we already have enough information to decide which is the more stable structure? Why do we need to know the Formal Charge per atom in this case?

Thank you,

Odalis Section 1E
Posts: 20
Joined: Wed Nov 16, 2016 3:03 am

### Re: Quick Question about SO4

I believe that the second structure is more stable because you want the least amount of negatives in the formal charge. For example in the first structure you have 4 (-1) formal charges and in the second one you only have 2. If I am wrong please correct me.

404768057
Posts: 20
Joined: Fri Jul 22, 2016 3:00 am

### Re: Quick Question about SO4

Structure B is better because it shows that S has a lower formal charge when the double bonds are created which makes it more stable.

Davalanya 1F
Posts: 23
Joined: Fri Jun 23, 2017 11:39 am
Been upvoted: 1 time

### Re: Quick Question about SO4

Isn't the most stable structure an average of them all?

I know that you can't calculate a formal charge of a molecule because you need to add them all up to see what the total formal charge is. You calculate it by element.

Helen Shi 1J
Posts: 78
Joined: Sat Jul 22, 2017 3:00 am

### Re: Quick Question about SO4

If both structures have the same net charge then why is one "better" than the other?

JELCI_BARRAZA_1C
Posts: 17
Joined: Wed Sep 21, 2016 3:00 pm

### Re: Quick Question about SO4

Are there any other elements that can have more than are exceptions to the octet rule, and have more electrons than eight?

Sydney Briggs 1B
Posts: 6
Joined: Fri Sep 29, 2017 7:03 am

### Re: Quick Question about SO4

404768057 wrote:Structure B is better because it shows that S has a lower formal charge when the double bonds are created which makes it more stable.

How do you determine is a structure is better than another?

Christy Zhao 1H
Posts: 50
Joined: Fri Sep 29, 2017 7:07 am

### Re: Quick Question about SO4

It can be determined by calculating the formal charge of the element. The lower the number of formal charges, the more stable the structure.

Jesus Rodriguez 1J
Posts: 53
Joined: Sat Jul 22, 2017 3:00 am

### Re: Quick Question about SO4

Calculating the formal charge of the each element and you add them up to determine how stable a molecule is.