1. A Review of General Chemistry
Formal Charges
17PRACTICE PROBLEM
By examining the potential maps for NH3, NH4+, and NH2−, we can see that an atom with a formal charge does not always have a higher or lower electron density than the atoms in the molecule with no formal charges.
![](https://lightcat-files.s3.amazonaws.com/problem_images/9e987981dd8e167c-1678468794748.jpg)
(i) Which atom carries the formal positive charge in NH4+?
(ii) Which atom has the least electron density in NH4+?
By examining the potential maps for NH3, NH4+, and NH2−, we can see that an atom with a formal charge does not always have a higher or lower electron density than the atoms in the molecule with no formal charges.
(i) Which atom carries the formal positive charge in NH4+?
(ii) Which atom has the least electron density in NH4+?