Most Favorable Formal Charge

$FC=V-(L+\frac{S}{2})$

torialmquist1F
Posts: 49
Joined: Sat Jul 22, 2017 3:00 am

Most Favorable Formal Charge

When it is impossible that all elements can have 0 formal charge, does it matter which ones get the formal charge? Should it be the central element or the outside ones?

James Nguyen 3G
Posts: 19
Joined: Sat Jul 22, 2017 3:00 am

Re: Most Favorable Formal Charge

The more electronegative atom should generally have the negative charge if there is one, and the less electronegative atom should generally have the positive charge if there is one.

Kyra LeRoy 1E
Posts: 52
Joined: Sat Jul 22, 2017 3:00 am

Re: Most Favorable Formal Charge

In general, the central element should not be negative, and the outer should not be positive. As long as that is followed, you just want to have the lowest overall charge & for the most part try not to have any charges on a single element above +1 or below -1.

Meredith Steinberg 2E
Posts: 50
Joined: Thu Jul 13, 2017 3:00 am

Re: Most Favorable Formal Charge

It's most favorable for the central atom to have a formal charge of zero. This is why an expanded octet on the central atom can be more stable than a regular octet. For example, SF6 has an expanded octet on the sulfur atom, but that is the most stable lewis structure.

Posts: 27
Joined: Fri Apr 06, 2018 11:04 am

Re: Most Favorable Formal Charge

Would it ever be possible for an element with a radical electron, in a compound, to have a formal charge of zero? As well, is there a lowest amount of elements in a compound where it is unnecessary to calculate formal charge?

Chem_Mod
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Re: Most Favorable Formal Charge

The sum of the formal charge should add up to the overall charge of the molecule/ion that you are talking about. If you have to have formal charges, the negative charge would prefer to be in the more electronegative atom when possible.