Question

The formal charge on $N$ in $N{O}_2^{-}$ is:

• A. 0.0
• B. 1
• C. -1
• D. +$\frac{1}{2}$

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 valence shell of the atom.
$L$ = Total number of non bonding (lone pair) electrons of the atom.
$B$ = Total number of bonding (shared) electrons of that particular atom.
From the given structure, for nitrogen, we have $V=5;L=2;B=6$

$\therefore$ Formal charge on the nitrogen atom in $N{O}_2^{-}$( is:
$FC=5-2-\frac{1}{2}\times \left(6\right)\therefore FC=0$