Question

What is the formal charge present on the oxygen atom (numbered 1) in the Lewis structure of CO₂?

\[\ce{^\bullet_\bullet {\ce{O}} ≡ C - \overset{\bullet\bullet}{\underset{\bullet\bullet}{O^\bullet_\bullet}}}\]

Options

• 0

• −1

• +1

• −2

Answer 1

+1

Explanation:

Formal charge of oxygen atom (numbered 1) = `VE - NE - 1/2 (BE)`

= `6 - 2 - 1/2(6)`

= 4 − 3

= +1