question 3 on the first chapter of organic destroyer...

[Dent35]

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hey everyone,
the question is...
what is the formal charge on P in (CH3)4P

so there is 33 electrons in total,
16 from Carbon
12 from hydrogen
and 5 from phosphorus
for a total of 33.

so we would end up having one extra electron on P, giving us a formal charge of 0.
but the answer is +1? and when Romano drew the answer he didn't have an extra electron around phosphorus, i am doing anything wrong?

 

[Koalafied]

hey everyone,
the question is...
what is the formal charge on P in (CH3)4P

so there is 33 electrons in total,
16 from Carbon
12 from hydrogen
and 5 from phosphorus
for a total of 33.

so we would end up having one extra electron on P, giving us a formal charge of 0.
but the answer is +1👍? and when Romano drew the answer he didn't have an extra electron around phosphorus, i am doing anything wrong?

FC = valence electrons – "sticks" – nonbonding electrons

 

[Dent35]

Yeah, so 5-4-1= 0... Because you'll have one extra electron around phosphorus

 

[Dotoday]

The formula for the formal charge is Group #-(1/2of shared electrons+unshared electrons)

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[Dent35]

i know the formula for calculating valance electrons, it just doesn't make sense to me with (CH3)4P how P has a formal charge of +1

 

[NewBee12]

Formal Charge = Group number - [ half # of shared electrons - # of unshared electron ].this 5 - [ 1/2 [ 8 ] + 0 = +1

 

[NewBee12]

ooops make that : Formal Charge = Group number - [ half # of shared electrons + # of unshared electrons.5 - [ 1/2 [ 8 ] + 0] = +1
P is in group 15,,,,,but we count it as group 5.

 

[Dent35]

i know that!!!
if you draw out the lewis structure for this, you get four covalent bonds around P and one extra electron around it as well.
because (CH3)4P has a total of 33 electrons!
i don't think anyone is understanding my question lol

 

[chronicman]

it's an easy question. can't you just do it on your own? geez

 

[Dent35]

Well if it's that easy why don't you explain it since you got 30s on your DAT 🙂

 

[Dotoday]

Thanks Newbee. That formal charge formula works well. It is fast and reliable. Also, if you remember that Nitrogen with 4 bonds has + charge and Oxygen with 3 bonds has + charge, it will save you even more time.

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[Dent35]

you guys... everyone is mentioning the FC formula but no one is talking about the fact that phosphorus has four bonds around it and ONE extra electron making its formal charge 0!!