How to calculate the formal charge of C and O in CO Lewis Structure

 In this  post I will discuss how to  calculate the formal charge of C and O atom from the Best CO Lewis structure.

To find the formal charge of C and O atom from CO Lewis structure,you need to apply the following formal charge formula:

●Formal charge = Valence electrons in neutral atom - 1/2 (Bonding Electrons) - Nonbonding electrons

Consider the best Lewis structure of CO molecule.Here you need to calculate the formal charge of oxygen atom and carbon atom.

Best CO Lewis Structure

Formal charge of O atom in CO:

●The number of valence electrons in a neutral oxygen atom is 6 as it is the element of group VIA.

●Number of Nonbonding electrons of O is 2.

●Number of bonding electrons of O is 6.

●Formal charge of O = Valence electrons in neutral O atom - 1/2 (Bonding Electrons of O) - Nonbonding electrons of O 

               =6 - 1/2(6) - 2

                =6 -3 -2

                  =6-5

                   =+1

So,the formal charge of O atom in CO best Lewis structure is +1. 

Formal charge of C atom in CO:

●The number of valence electrons in a neutral carbon atom is 4 as it is the element of group IVA.

●Number of nonbonding electrons of C is 2.

●Bonding electrons of C is 6.

●Formal charge of C = Valence electrons in neutral C atom - 1/2 (Bonding Electrons of C) - Nonbonding elctrons of C

               =4 - 1/2(6) - 2

                =4 - 3 -2

                    =4 -5

             =-1

So,the formal charge of C atom in CO best Lewis structure is -1.

Now if you add  the formal charge of each atom,you will get {(-1)+(+1)=0} zero.This means that CO'overall charge is zero.

How to calculate the formal charge of C and O in CO Lewis Structure

Here is the another formula for calculating the formal charge of C and O atoms from the CO Lewis structure.

Formal Charge=Valence Electrons -Dots - Lines

Formal charge of O atom in CO:

●The number of valence electrons in a neutral oxygen atom is 6 as it is the element of group VIA.

●Dots electrons of O is 2.

●Lines or bonds of O is 3.

●Formal charge of O = Valence electrons in neutral O atom -Dots - Lines

= 6 - 2 - 3

= 6 -5

=+1

So,the formal charge of O atom in CO best Lewis structure is +1. 

Formal charge of C atom in CO:

●The number of valence electrons in a neutral carbon atom is 4 as it is the element of group IVA.

●Dots electrons of C is 2.

●Lines or bonds of C is 3.

●Formal charge of C = Valence electrons in neutral C atom -Dots - Lines

= 4 - 2- 3

= 4 - 5

=-1

So,the formal charge of C atom in CO best Lewis structure is -1.

Summary:

The formal charges of C and O in the best CO Lewis Structure is -1 and +1.