Stable Vs. Formal

[Shibhon_Shepard]

Is there a difference between the stable charge and the formal charge? if they are explain please and thank you.

[Rachel Yoo 1F]

I think stable charge refers to the formal charge of the most stable structure for the specific molecule

[Tam To 1B]

Formal charge would refer to the charge of each individual atom and the overall number of electrons an atom owns in a molecule. I believe stable charge would just be the most stable form of the entire molecule.

[Vanadium Wang 4H]

Formal charge is the electric charge of an atom in a molecule assigned on the assumption that the bonding is nonpolar covalent. It is calculated by FC = number of valence electrons in the free atom - (number of lone-pair electrons + 1/2 * number of shared electrons). Stable charge refers to the formal charge of the most stable structure of the given molecule (closest to 0).

[uhedlund]

Formal charge is the overall charge of an atom or molecule; the most stable charge for a molecule is generally the formal charge closest to 0.