Recall that the formula for the formal charge is:
The given Lewis structures are:
For methylene:
There's only 1 carbon:
Consider these structures.
For which structure(s) does the electron-bearing carbon atom have a formal charge of zero?
a) methylene only
b) ethyl radical only
c) both
d) neither
For which structure(s) is the net charge zero?
a) methylene only
b) ethyl radical only
c) both
d) neither
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