Chemical Bonding — Easy JEE chemistry MCQ
**[JEE Mains 2026]** In HNO₃, the formal charges on oxygen atoms bonded to nitrogen are: one oxygen is double-bonded (O=N), one is single-bonded (O-N), and one is in the hydroxyl group (O-H). What are the formal charges on the double-bonded oxygen, single-bonded oxygen, and the oxygen in -OH group respectively?
- A. 0, -1, 0
- B. -1, 0, 0
- C. 0, 0, -1
- D. -1, -1, 0
Solution
In HNO₃ structure: H-O-N(=O)(-O⁻)
Double-bonded oxygen: 6 - 4 - 2 = 0
Single-bonded oxygen (O⁻): 6 - 6 - 1 = -1
Oxygen in -OH: 6 - 4 - 2 = 0
Formal charges: 0, -1, 0.