A formal charge is a comparison of electrons "owned" by an atom in a Lewis structure versus the

number of electrons possessed by the same atom in its unbound, free atomic state.

This is to identify, which part of a molecule or radical has more electron density compare to the other.

Determination involves three steps

Step 1: Draw the best Lewis structure

. Be sure to show all nonbonded electrons

Step 2. Assign the formal charge to each atom

FC = GN - UE - 1/2BE

FC = formal charge

GN = periodic table group number (number of valence electrons in free,

nonbonded atom)

UE = number of unshared electrons

BE = number of electrons shared in covalent bonds

Step 3. Check your work. The sum of the formal charges of all atoms must equal the

overall charge on the structure

1. The best Lewis structure or resonance contributing structure has the least number of

atoms with formal charge.

2. Equivalent atoms have the same formal charge. For example, all the hydrogen atoms

of methane (CH4) are equivalent and therefore have the same formal charge

. Formal charges other than +1, 0 or -1 are uncommon except for metals
 formal charge

ClO3 -
. .     . .    . .      Formal Charges: 
  : O – Cl – O :     O: 6 - (6 + 1) = -1; and 
   ˙ ˙      |     ˙ ˙      Cl: 7 - (2 + 3) = +2 
         : O :           Total charge = 2 - 3(-1) = -1 
           ˙ ˙ 

  . .     . .    . .      Formal Charges: 

  : O = Cl = O :     O single bond is still -1; but 
            |              O double bond: 6 - (4 + 2) = 0; and 
         : O :           Cl: 7 - (2 + 5) = 0 
           ˙ ˙ 

Thus the total charge of the molecule = -1 as before, but now only one atom is not neutral, which is more
favorable than the structure originally proposed

NO3-
Determine the total number of valence electrons in a molecule

5 + 3x6 + 1 = 24

skeleton

Electrons

octets ?
Check that you have the lowest FORMAL CHARGES possible for all the atoms, without violating the octet
rule

MPORTANT : no Lewis diagram is complete without formal charges. Lewis diagrams are drawn to
examine mechanisms so knowing which parts of a molecule are electron defficient (+) and which are
electron rich (-) is vital.

It is best to have a formal charge of 0 for as many of the atoms in a structure as possible.

If a formal charge of 1- is located next to a formal charge of 1+, the formal charges can usually be
minimized by having a lone pair of electrons, located on the atom with the 1- charge become a bonding
pair of electrons that is shared with the atom that has the 1+ formal charge (this can be visualised in the
same way as the formation of multiple bonds were above).

CAUTION : octets can be expanded to minimize formal charges but only for atoms in the second row of
the periodic table (where n=3 or greater). For instance in our example, N cannot expand its octet so
keeps a formal charge of 1+ . In SO3 , however, it would be possible to minimize all formal charges by
having the sulfur expand its octe

. .     . .    . .      Formal Charges: 

  : O – Cl – O :     O: 6 - (6 + 1) = -1; and 
   ˙ ˙      |     ˙ ˙      Cl: 7 - (2 + 3) = +2 
         : O :           Total charge = 2 - 3(-1) = -1 
           ˙ ˙ 
  . .     . .    . .      Formal Charges: 
  : O = Cl = O :     O single bond is still -1; but 
            |              O double bond: 6 - (4 + 2) = 0; and 
         : O :           Cl: 7 - (2 + 5) = 0 
           ˙ ˙ 

Thus the total charge of the molecule = -1 as before, but now only one atom is not neutral, which is more
favorable than the structure originally proposed