The formal charge on the oxygens in the compound below are ________.
A) Oxygen 1: 0, Oxygen 2: 0
B) Oxygen 1: -1, Oxygen 2: 0
C) Oxygen 1: 0, Oxygen 2: -1
D) Oxygen 1: +1, Oxygen 2: 0
E) Oxygen 1: -1, Oxygen 2: -1

Question

The formal charge on the oxygens in the compound below are ________. 
A) Oxygen 1: 0, Oxygen 2: 0 
B) Oxygen 1: -1, Oxygen 2: 0 
C) Oxygen 1: 0, Oxygen 2: -1 
D) Oxygen 1: +1, Oxygen 2: 0 
E) Oxygen 1: -1, Oxygen 2: -1

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

To determine the formal charge on each oxygen atom in the compound, we first need to determine the electron configuration of each atom.

For Oxygen 1, it has 6 valence electrons (group 16), but in the compound, it is bonded to two other atoms (which we can assume are carbon atoms based on the compound's structure), and there is one lone pair of electrons on the oxygen.

Therefore, Oxygen 1 has 6 valence electrons - 2 bonding electrons - 4 lone pair electrons = 0 formal charge.

For Oxygen 2, it also has 6 valence electrons, but it is bonded to only one atom (Carbon, in this case), and it has two lone pairs of electrons.

Therefore, Oxygen 2 has 6 valence electrons - 2 bonding electrons - 4 lone pair electrons = -1 formal charge.

The correct answer is B because the formal charge on Oxygen 1 is 0 and the formal charge on Oxygen 2 is -1.

The Formal Charge on the Oxygens in the Compound Below