Question

Calculate the formal charge of the middle atom in the ozone molecule.

(a) 1

(b) -1

(c) 0

(d) -2

I have been asked this question by my school principal while I was bunking the class.

Question is taken from Kossel-Lewis Approach to Chemical Bonding topic in portion Chemical Bonding and Molecular Structure of Chemistry – Class 11

Answer 1

Correct answer is (a) 1

To explain I would say: The formula for finding out the formula charge of an in a molecule = total number of valence electrons – total number of non-bonding electrons – 1/2 (total number of bonding electrons). So here, a formal charge of central O is 6 – 2 – 6/2 = 1.