Question

Calculate the formal charge on the chlorine atom in $HCl{O}_3$.

• A. 0.0
• B. -1
• C. 1
• D. -0.5

Answer 1

The correct option is A 0.0


Formal charge on any atom is calculated as:
Formal charge $\left(FC\right)$ = $V-L-\frac{B}{2}$
Where,
V = Total number of valence electrons in the atom.
L = Total number of non bonding (lone pair) electrons in the atom.
B = Total number of bonding (shared) electrons in that particular atom.

Hence the formal charge on $Cl$ atom = 7 - 2 - $\frac{1}{2}$ (10) = 0