NEET2026ChemistryChemical Bonding and Molecular StructureActual
The correct formal charges on oxygen atoms numbered 2 , 1 and 3 respectively are :
Options
- A-1, 0, +1
- B0, +1, -1
- C0, 0, 0
- D+1, 0, -1
Correct answer
B. 0, +1, -1
Step-by-step solution
The formal charge (FC) on an atom in a Lewis structure is given by the formula: FC = V - L - S 2 where V is the number of valence electrons, L is the number of non-bonding electrons, and S is the number of shared (bonding) electrons. For oxygen, the number of valence electrons is V = 6 . For oxygen atom 1 (central atom): It has 1 lone pair ( 2 non-bonding electrons) and 3 bonds ( 6 shared electrons). FC₁ = 6 - 2 - 6 2 = +1 For oxygen atom 2 (left atom): It has 2 lone pairs ( 4 non-bonding electrons) and 2 bonds ( 4