Formal Charge/Lewis structures

[McKenna_4A]

When drawing Lewis Structures, should we try and make the central atom have a formal charge of zero almost always (Ions, covalent bonds, etc...)?

[Brian_Ho_2B]

Yes, and if there are any negative formal charges, they are ideally on the outer atoms to delocalize the negative charge.

[Sion Hwang 4D]

For covalent compounds, you always want to make sure that the central atom has a formal charge of 0 (or close to it). This makes the compound most stable. For ionic compounds, ions share electrons unequally, so the charges should be different (opposite in sign) anyways.

[RoshniVarmaDis1K]

If formal charges that are not equal to 0 must exist, they should be as symmetrically spaced out on the outer atoms as possible. This increases surface area and makes the molecule more stable because it has lower energy.

[Kelvin Chung 1C]

If formal charges that are not equal to 0 must exist, they should be as symmetrically spaced out on the outer atoms as possible. This increases surface area and makes the molecule more stable because it has lower energy.

Why does delocalization of electrons like this make the molecule more stable?

[alicechien_4F]

Electrons repel each other, so delocalizing them over more bonds decreases the electron-electron repulsion in any one bond. Because the electrons can move around, they can satisfy the octet for more atoms and make them more stable.