Formal Charge

Which drawing is best?

An interactive lesson with 7 steps, about 6 minutes: you predict, drag and solve, with instant feedback on every answer. It runs in your browser and needs JavaScript.

What you’ll learn

• Formal charge = valence electrons − lone-pair electrons − bonds.
• Formal charges add up to the overall charge.
• Prefer structures with the smallest formal charges.

Steps

1. Electrons an atom can call its own
2. Ammonium
3. Build ammonium
4. Two ways to draw CO₂
5. Hydroxide
6. Cyanide
7. Carbon monoxide