Formal Charge and Valence Electrons

The video tutorial explains how to calculate the formal charges of hydrogen and chlorine in the HCl molecule. It begins by examining hydrogen, which has one valence electron and no non-bonding electrons, resulting in a formal charge of zero. The tutorial then moves to chlorine, which has seven valence electrons, six of which are non-bonding, also resulting in a formal charge of zero. The total formal charge for the HCl molecule is zero. The video concludes with a summary of these calculations.

What is the first step in calculating the formal charge of an atom?

• Count the total number of electrons.

• Look at the periodic table to find the group number.

• Subtract the bonding electrons.

• Divide the bonding electrons by two.

How many valence electrons does hydrogen have according to the periodic table?

• Two

• Three

• Four

• One

What is the formal charge of hydrogen in HCl?

• -1

• 0

• +1

• +2

In which group is chlorine found on the periodic table?

• Group 1

• Group 17

• Group 2

• Group 7

How many non-bonding electrons does chlorine have in HCl?

• Four

• Eight

• Two

• Six

What is the formal charge of chlorine in HCl?

• -1

• +2

• 0

• +1

What is the total formal charge of the HCl molecule?

• +2

• -1

• 0

• +1