Formal Charge

Chemistry ⇒ Chemical Bonding and Structure

Formal Charge starts at 11 and continues till grade 12. QuestionsToday has an evolving set of questions to continuously challenge students so that their knowledge grows in Formal Charge. How you perform is determined by your score and the time you take. When you play a quiz, your answers are evaluated in concept instead of actual words and definitions used.

See sample questions for grade 12

Describe how formal charge can help distinguish between possible resonance structures.

Describe how to assign formal charges in a polyatomic ion with resonance structures.

Describe the difference between formal charge and oxidation number.

Describe the relationship between electronegativity and the placement of formal charges in a molecule.

Explain why formal charge is important in determining the preferred Lewis structure of a molecule.

Calculate the formal charge on each atom in the carbonate ion (CO₃^2-).

Calculate the formal charge on each atom in the cyanide ion (CN^-).

Calculate the formal charge on each atom in the Lewis structure of HCOOH (formic acid).

Calculate the formal charge on each oxygen atom in the ozone molecule (O₃) given the following Lewis structure: O–O=O.

Which of the following is NOT a correct step in calculating formal charge? (1) Count all electrons in lone pairs as belonging to the atom. (2) Assign all bonding electrons to the more electronegative atom. (3) Subtract the number of bonds from the number of valence electrons. (4) Subtract the number of non-bonding electrons from the number of valence electrons.

Which of the following is the best Lewis structure for the nitrite ion (NO₂^-) based on formal charges? (1) Both oxygens single-bonded to N (2) One oxygen double-bonded, one single-bonded to N (3) Both oxygens double-bonded to N (4) N triple-bonded to one oxygen, single-bonded to the other

Which of the following is the correct formal charge on the central atom in the Lewis structure of XeF₄? (1) +2 (2) +1 (3) 0 (4) -2

Which of the following is the correct formal charge on the nitrogen atom in NO₂^-? (1) +1 (2) 0 (3) -1 (4) -2

Fill in the blank: The formal charge on the carbon atom in CO (carbon monoxide) is _______.

Fill in the blank: The formal charge on the nitrogen atom in the nitronium ion (NO₂⁺) is _______.

Fill in the blank: The sum of the formal charges in the sulfate ion (SO₄^2-) is _______.

True or False: Formal charge can be used to predict the reactivity of certain sites in a molecule.

True or False: Formal charge is a real charge that can be measured experimentally.

True or False: In the nitrate ion (NO₃^-), all three oxygen atoms have the same formal charge.

True or False: The formal charge on each hydrogen atom in NH₄⁺ is zero.