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QuestionChemistry

How would you calculate the formal charge of NH^3 ?
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Step 1:
I'll solve this step-by-step, following the LaTeX formatting guidelines precisely:

Step 2:
: Understand Formal Charge Calculation

- $$B$$ = Number of bonding electrons
Formal charge is calculated using the formula: Where:

Step 3:
: Determine Valence Electrons for Nitrogen

- Nitrogen has $$5$$ valence electrons
- Nitrogen is in Group 5A

Step 4:
: Determine Valence Electrons for Hydrogen

- Hydrogen has $$1$$ valence electron
- Hydrogen is in Group 1A

Step 5:
: Draw Lewis Structure of NH^3

- Nitrogen forms $$3$$ single bonds with hydrogen atoms
- One lone pair remains on nitrogen

Step 6:
: Calculate Formal Charge for Nitrogen

\text{Formal Charge}_{\text{N}} = 5 - 2 - \frac{6}{2} = 0
- N_{N} = 2 (lone pair electrons)

Step 7:
: Calculate Formal Charge for Hydrogen

\text{Formal Charge}_{\text{H}} = 1 - 0 - \frac{2}{2} = 0
- N_{H} = 0

Final Answer

The formal charge for both nitrogen and hydrogen atoms in NH^3 is 0.