Lewis Structures
The formal charge on the nitrogen atom in the nitrate ion (NO₃⁻) is:
Select the correct option:
Solution
+1
The Formal Charge (FC) is calculated as: FC=[V]−[L]−21[B] Where V = Valence electrons, L = Lone pair electrons, B = Bonding electrons. For Nitrogen in NO3−:
- Nitrogen has 5 valence electrons (V=5).
- It is bonded to 3 Oxygens, forming 4 bonds total (1 double, 2 single) to satisfy the octet rule.
- B=8 bonding electrons.
- L=0 lone pair electrons. FC=5−0−28=5−4=+1
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About This Question
- Subject
- chemistry
- Chapter
- chemical bonding and molecular structure
- Topic
- lewis structures
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Year
- 2025
Solution
Correct Answer:
+1
The Formal Charge (FC) is calculated as: FC=[V]−[L]−21[B] Where V = Valence electrons, L = Lone pair electrons, B = Bonding electrons. For Nitrogen in NO3−:
- Nitrogen has 5 valence electrons (V=5).
- It is bonded to 3 Oxygens, forming 4 bonds total (1 double, 2 single) to satisfy the octet rule.
- B=8 bonding electrons.
- L=0 lone pair electrons. FC=5−0−28=5−4=+1
This medium difficulty chemistry question is from the chapter chemical bonding and molecular structure, covering the topic of lewis structures. It appeared in the 2025 exam.
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