Formal charge (FC = V − N − B/2)
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FC = V − N − B/2
What each symbol means
| Symbol | What it stands for |
|---|---|
| B | Bonding electrons shared on that atom (both dots in bonds count) |
| N | Non-bonding (lone-pair) electrons on the atom in the structure |
| V | Valence electrons on the free atom |
When to use this
Lewis structure bookkeeping; sum of FC equals charge on ion.