Formal charge
Chemical Bonding (Basics) · Chemistry
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Two Lewis structures of CO are proposed: C≡O and C=O. Which is better? Structure A (C≡O with lone pairs): FC(C) = 4 − (2+3) = −1; FC(O) = 6 − (2+3) = +1. Structure B (C=O): FC(C) = 4 − (2+2) = 0... but octet incomplete on C. Better: :C≡O:⁺ with FC −1 on C, +1 on O — negative on LESS electronegative C is odd, but experiment confirms C≡O triple bond; FC guides but doesn't overrule data. Rule of thumb: minimise |FC| first, then place −ve on more electronegative atom.