Question

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

• A. $0$
• B. $-1$
• C. $+1$
• D. $-0.5$

Answer 1

The correct option is A $0$

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 - $\frac{1}{2}10=0$