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🧪 Chemistry  ·  Chemical Bonding and Molecular Structure  ·  NEET & JEE

The formal charge of an atom in a Lewis structure is:

Answer: Valence electrons - non-bonding electrons - (bonding electrons/2).

  • A Valence electrons - non-bonding electrons - (bonding electrons/2)
  • B The sum of valence electrons and lone pair electrons present
  • C The difference between the nuclear charge and the atomic number
  • D The conventional oxidation state assigned to that atom

Correct answer: A. Valence electrons - non-bonding electrons - (bonding electrons/2)

Explanation: Formal charge = (valence electrons) - (lone pair electrons) - (½ × bonding electrons).

Linear180 deg, e.g. CO2Trigonal Planar120 deg, e.g. BF3Tetrahedral109.5 deg, e.g. CH4Trigonal Bipyramidale.g. PCl5Octahedrale.g. SF6

VSEPR theory predicts molecular shape from the number of bonding and lone electron pairs around the central atom.

Concept context

Understand how atoms join to form molecules. Covers ionic and covalent bonding, VSEPR theory, hybridization (sp, sp², sp³), molecular orbital theory, bond polarity, and intermolecular forces like hydrogen bonding.

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