Question

The formal charges on $Cl$ in $HClO$ and $Cl{O}^{-}$ ions repectively are:

• A. $0,-1$
• B. $0,0$
• C. $-1,-1$
• D. $-1,0$

Answer 1

The correct option is B $0,0$




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 the $Cl$ atom in $HClO$ = 7 - 6 - $\frac{1}{2}$(2) = 0

The formal charge on the $Cl$ atom in $Cl{O}^{-}$ = 7 - 6 - $\frac{1}{2}$ (2) = 0