What are the formal charges on the carbon and oxygen atoms and the formal charge difference, $ \Delta \mathrm{FC} $, in the Lewis (electron dot) structure of carbon dioxide shown in the figure? $$\ddot{0}=c=\ddot{0}$$

Question

What are the formal charges on the carbon and oxygen atoms and the formal charge difference, $ \Delta \mathrm{FC} $, in the Lewis (electron dot) structure of carbon dioxide shown in the figure? $$\ddot{0}=c=\ddot{0}$$, $ +4,-2 $ and $ +6 $, $ +4,+4 $ and $ 0 $, $ +4,+2 $ and $ +2 $, $ 0,0 $ and $ 0 $

MARKS App · Accepted Answer

The calculation of formal charge (FC) can be considered as a process involving electronic book-keeping, it is a hypothetical charge worked out as follows: FC = (number of valence electrons) - 1 2 (number of bonding electrons) - (number of non-bonding electrons) ∴ FC ( C ) = ( 4 ) - 1 2 ( 8 ) - 0 = 0 FC ( O ) = ( 6 ) - 1 2 ( 4 ) - 4 = 0 Hence, ∆ FC = 0 - 0 = 0 .

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