formal charge on most electronegative atom

[Divya Pimparkar 1E]

is it true that the formal charge should be minimized on the most electronegative atom in the lewis structure?

[Mona Lee 4L]

Yes, because the most electronegative atom will draw the most electrons, so should have the most negative formal charge.

[Saachi_Kotia_4E]

yes since the most electronegative atom is the central atom, it is bonded to most of the other atoms on the compound. in order for it to be the most stable, the central atom should have a formal charge as close to 0 as possible

[MaggieMatern_Dis1H]

If the Lewis structure cannot or should not be drawn where all atoms have FC=0, then any resulting negative charges should be on the most electronegative atom in the molecule. The more electronegative an atom is, the stronger the pull it has on electrons, so it would make sense that an element like oxygen, that only needs 2 electrons to fill its octet, would have a strong pull on other electrons because it 'wants' them very badly, and thus it would be appropriate for it to have a negative formal charge.