Formal Charge

[Matia Kim 1B]

Can we determine an element/compound by formal charge alone?

[Michael_Navarro_1H]

No, formal charge is only specific to a single atom within the context of molecule and the involvement of its electrons with other atoms.

[Shreya Tamatam 3B]

No, formal charge only indicates its gain or loss of electrons while forming a covalent bond. So, different atoms in a molecule could still have the same formal charge.

[Samantha Chung 4I]

HIi! Can someone re-explain to me why the formal charge has to be zero? This is something that I keep forgetting. Thanks!

[Jennifer Torres 2L]

Formal charge has to be zero because that means that the element is at its most stable point. Electrons tend to organize themselves to be in the most stable state they can so naturally a structure with all zero formal charges will grant them this.

[Courtney McHargue 1I]

Formal charges don't always have to be zero, as if a molecule is an ion with a certain positive or negative charge, then at least one element in the structure must have a charge that makes all of the formal charges of the elements in the structure add up to zero. But, to find the most stable form of a molecule's structure, you do want to try to make it so that the base element in the middle has a formal charge of 0.

[Tony Chung 2I]

You cannot determine an element/compound just by using formal charge alone. The formal charge does not have to be zero. If it is zero, that means that it is at its most stable point.

[Tinisha 1G]

Formal charge is dependent on the molecule the atom is in! There is no predetermined formal charge for an atom or element, it will vary based on what it is reacting with and whether that molecule is stable or not.

[shaunajava2e]

formal charge is very relative and dependent on the amount of valance electrons an element has in the periodic table and how many it is given in the lewis structure

[shouse1f]

the formal charge being zero means that that is most stable structure for the molecule

[Nell Mitchell 1E]

HIi! Can someone re-explain to me why the formal charge has to be zero? This is something that I keep forgetting. Thanks!

Formal charge doesn't have to be zero, but the element will be most stable when formal charge is zero , so a molecule with all zero FCs will be most stable and therefore the best formation

[405098546]

That is not possible because formal charge is based off the specific composition of a molecule. An atom doesn't own or have a specific formal charge.