Knowledge of the lowest energy structure helps in predicting the major product of a reaction and also describes a lot of phenomena. The formal charge being a theoretical charge doesnвЂ™t indicate any real charge separation in the molecule.ДЇormal charges help in the selection of the lowest energy structure from a number of possible Lewis structures for a given species. The Lewis structure of SO 4 2- is as follows:ДЎ,2,3 and 4 are for the indexing of oxygen while calculating the formal charge. of bonding e вЂ“ because bonding e вЂ“ is shared between two atoms. Mathematically, it can be expressed by following formula:ДЇ.C.

Remember that formal charge is calculated by taking the of valence electrons, minus the lone electrons and the bonds, and we show that charge next to the molecule. вЂњThe formal charge over an atom of a polyatomic molecule or ion is the difference between the valence electron of that atom in the elemental state and the number of electrons assigned to that atom in Lewis structure.вЂќ Formal Charge Formula: We draw the dot structure in the exact same manner, and then calculate the formal charges for the atoms in the molecule. The formal charge of an atom of a polyatomic molecule or ion is defined below. ItвЂ™s a theoretical charge over an individual atom of an ion as the real charge over a polyatomic molecule or ion is distributed on anВ ion as a whole and not over a single atom. A Formal charge is also known as a Fake Charge.

Formal charge formula