Which one of these statements about formal charge is true? (a) Formal charge is the same as oxidation number. (b) To draw the best Lewis structure, you should minimize formal charge. (c) Formal charge takes into account the different electronegativities of the atoms in a molecule. (d) Formal charge is most useful for ionic compounds. (e) Formal charge is used in calculating the dipole moment of a diatomic molecule.

Video transcript

Hi everyone for this problem we're being asked which of the following statements is true about formal charges. Okay, so for statement A the electro negativity values of the elements are used in determining formal charge. So the formal charge involves electrons and the assumption that each bonding pair is shared equally between the two atoms. So this statement is going to be false. Okay, statement B. The dipole moment and overall polarity of a compound can be calculated using formal charges. So here we're talking about dipole moment and dipole moment involves the unequal sharing of electrons. And the difference in electro negativity between a bonding pair. So this statement is false statement. See only ionic compounds possess formal charges. So for this statement, we should recall that Covalin bonds or covalin compounds can also have formal charges. So this statement is false statement D. The best Lewis structure for a compound is the structure where the formal charges is minimized. So the dominant Lewis structure is generally the one in which the atoms give the smallest formal charge or closest to zero. So this one is true. Okay. And the last statement e formal charges, another term for oxidation number. So we're comparing formal charge and oxidation number and formal charge and oxidation number are two different concepts and assigning oxidation numbers. The electrons and a bonding pair are usually assigned to the more electro negative atom. So this statement is false. So our only true statement out of the ones given is statement D and that is the answer to this problem. That's the end of this problem. I hope this was helpful.