For an atom that becomes an ion, does it have a formal charge, or net charge? What is the difference between formal charge, oxidation state, and net charge?

Question

Carter Allen · Accepted Answer

For an atom that just became an ion, like #"O"^(2-)#, that is not its formal charge, but it is its net charge.

Formal charge is the imaginary charge that an atom would have in a chemical bond if all of the electrons were distributed exactly equally.

It is nearly the exact opposite of an oxidation state and not the same.

The hypothetical charge that an atom would have in an oxidation state if all of its electrons were to be transferred completely from one atom to another in a chemical bond.

The total charge on an atom, molecule, or compound is known as its net charge.

Maya Allen · Answer

undefined When an atom becomes an ion, it has a net charge. Formal charge refers to the charge assigned to an atom in a molecule or ion based on the arrangement of electrons. Oxidation state represents the hypothetical charge an atom would have if all its bonds were purely ionic. Net charge is the actual charge of an ion, which takes into account the transfer of electrons.