Curved arrows are also useful for keeping track of changes in formal charge. Note that the formal charge at theinitial tailof the curved arrow (the oxygen) becomesmore positive(from -1 to 0) and the formal charge at thefinal tail(the H+) becomesmore negative(from +1 to 0). When acid...
todetermineformalchargesontheatomsofanionormoleculehasthreesteps.Theprocessisillustratedusinghydroniumion(H3O+);anionveryfrequentlyencounteredinorganicandbiochemicalreactionmechanisms.Step1:DrawthebestLewisstructureforthemolecule,includingallunpairedelectrons.Besuretoshowallnonbondedelectrons,astheseinfluenceformalcharges....
The O in H3O+ might have a “formal” charge of +1, but it is actually the most electron-rich (i.e. negatively charged) atom on the molecule! So although the molecule H3O(+) has a charge of +1, that positive charge is actuallynoton the oxygen itself,but is “spread out” – di...