Alternative version of formula

[105002507]

Does the formula...

FC = group # - (bonds + nonbinding e-)

work the same as the one presented in lecture? This formula makes more sense to me and seems to result in all the same results.

[305113590]

Yes, I use that same formula as well. The 1/2 part in the formula is just used to account for the bonds. Your formula works just the same.

[Anand Narayan 1G]

Yes, your formula work, but I prefer to use FC = Valence Electrons - (Lone Electrons + Shared Electrons/2)

[Laura Gong 3H]

What works for me is: Formal Charge = Valence Electrons - (Dots + Dashes). Dots representing number of electrons that are unbounded and dashes representing the number of bonds.

[Cole Elsner 2J]

Yes it works, use whatever formula you're most comfortable with, but understand what the formula presented means.

[Adam Vuilleumier 2K]

Dr. Lavelle uses FC=valence electrons - (free electrons + bound electrons/2) because it helps us to understand that each line, or bond, in the Lewis structure represents 2 electrons. You can also use FC=valence electrons - (dots+lines) though because counting each line is the same thing as multiplying each line by 2 to get the amount of electrons and then dividing it by two in the equation. The bottom line is that we should be memorizing concepts not equations.

[ellienelson4F]

You can use both, but make sure you understand why they both work! The "dashes" represent bonds, which in the lecture formula is represented by the /2, so the numbers will come out the same for this reason.

[Nicklas_Wright_1A]

Yes, they both work and I think your formula is much easier to remember and use.