Question

what is the formal charge of oxygen please help

The structure for t-butylalcohol, (CH3)3COH, is given below. HC 1st attempt Feedback What is the formal charge of the oxygen? * - - formal charge

Answer 1

Formal charge = ( no. of valance electrons in neutral atom) - ( no. of non bonded electrons or in lone pairs ) - (1/2)( no. of electrons in bond)

Formal charge = VE - NBE - (1/2)BE

VE - valance electrons

NBE - non bonded electrons

BE - bonded electrons

As for CH_{​​​​​ 4}

C have VE = 4 , NBE = 0, BE = 8 ( 4 from hydrogen +4 it's own)

Formal charge on C = 4-0- (1/2)8 = 4 - 4 = 0

For H = 1 - 0 - (1/2) 2 = 1- 1 = 0

NOW for (CH ₃ ) ₃COH

For O - VE = 6 , NBE = 4 , BE = 4

Formal charge on O

= 6 -4 -(1/2)4 =6 - 4 - 2 = 0