1. A Review of General Chemistry
Formal Charges
16PRACTICE 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/701c28472b2379d5-1678468775161.jpg)
(i) Which atom carries the formal negative charge in NH2−?
(ii) Which atom has the greater electron density in NH2−?
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 negative charge in NH2−?
(ii) Which atom has the greater electron density in NH2−?