Question

Draw a sodium formate molecule. The structure has been supplied here for you to copy. To add formal charges, click the button below (which will turn yellow when activated) before clicking on the molecule. Draw sodium formate by placing atoms on the grid and connecting them with bonds. Include all lone-pair electrons. View available hint(s)

Answer 1

The Molecule of Sodium Formate along with Formal Charges (in blue) and lone pair electrons (in red) is attached below.

Sodium Formate is an ionic compound made up of a positive part (Sodium Ion) and a polyatomic anion (Formate).

Nomenclature:

In ionic compounds the positive part is named first. As sodium ion is the positive part hence, it is named first followed by the negative part i.e. formate.

Name of Formate:

Formate ion has been derived from formic acid ( the simplest carboxylic acid). When carboxylic acids looses the acidic proton of -COOH, they are converted into Carboxylate ions.

E.g.

HCOOH (formic acid) → HCOO⁻ (formate) + H⁺

H₃CCOOH (acetic acid) → H₃CCOO⁻ (acetate) + H⁺

Formal Charges:

Formal charges are calculated using following formula,

F.C = [# of Valence e⁻] - [e⁻ in lone pairs + 1/2 # of bonding electrons]

For Oxygen:

F.C = [6] - [6 + 2/2]

F.C = [6] - [6 + 1]

F.C = 6 - 7

F.C = -1

For Sodium:

F.C = [1] - [0 + 0/2]

F.C = [1] - [0]

F.C = 1 - 0

F.C = +1