FORMAL CHARGE

Formal charge is defined as the difference between the valence electrons in

an isolated atom i.e. free atom and the number of electrons assigned to that
atom in a Lewis structure.

The counting of electrons is based on the assumption that the atom in the
molecule owns 1 electron of each shared pair and both the electrons of the
lone pair.

General formula to calculate formal charge on atom in Lewis structure is given

as:

[Formal charge on atom in Lewis structure] = [Total number of valence

electron on free atom] – 1/2 [Total number of shared electrons] - [Total
number of unshared valence electrons]

ILLUSTRATIONS

1) Calculation of formal charge on O atoms of O3

2) Calculation of formal charge on S in HSO4-1 ion

3) Calculation of formal charge on P in H3PO4

 4) Calculation of formal charge on Cl in HClO4

ADVANTAGE

Main advantage of the calculation of formal charges is to get an idea about

the stability of the structure. The Lewis structure which has smallest formal
charge on its atom is associated with lowest energy and has maximum
stability

Therefore, out of the above illustrations, O3 atom has (-1) formal charge,
which is the least, and hence more stable.

OCTET RULE

The rule states that atoms of various elements enter into chemical
combination so as to attain the configuration of 8 electrons in their outermost
shell. It means the valence shell should have 8 electrons (Noble gas
configuration except Helium).

Although it is successful in explaining the valencies of large number of

elements but it fails to explain many structures. It has certain limitations.

1) Formation of compounds with electron deficient atoms or

Incomplete Octet of Central Atom - According to octet rule the
elements of group 1, 2 and 13 should not form covalent bond because
they have less than 4 electrons in their valence shell and they can’t
achieve octet by mutual sharing of electrons. But some of the elements
 of group 1, 2 and 13 form covalent compounds. Examples: LiCl, BeF2,
BCl3

In LiCl ---- Li atom has 2 electrons, in BeF2 --- Be has 4 electrons and in
BCl3--- B has 6 electrons in their outer most shell

2) Formation of Super Octet Molecule or Expanded Octet of Central

Atom – In compounds like PF5, SF6, IF7 & H2SO4 the central atom of
each compound has more than 8 electrons in its valence shell.
3) Formation of compounds of Xenon – Octet rule is based on
chemical inertness of noble gases but recent researches have shown
that noble gases particularly Xe and Kr are reactive. These gases take
part in chemical combination and form various compounds with fluorine
and oxygen such as XeF2, XeOF4, XeF2, and XeOF4 etc.

4) Formation of odd electron molecules – Certain molecules NO and

NO2 have odd number of electrons and octet rule is not satisfied.

5) This rule does not account for the shape of the molecules.

6) This rule fails to explain the relative stability of molecules in terms of

energy.

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