Final answer:
The formal charge on the central oxygen atom in Cl₂O is calculated as zero. This is derived using the formula for formal charge and accounting for oxygen's valence electrons, the number of bonds it forms with chlorine, and its nonbonding electrons.
Step-by-step explanation:
When determining the formal charge on the central oxygen atom in Cl₂O, we start by considering the valence electrons. Oxygen has 6 valence electrons, and in this molecule, it forms two bonds with two chlorine atoms.
According to the formula for calculating formal charge (Fc = Ve - (B + Nb)), where Ve is the number of valence electrons, B is the number of bonds, and Nb is the number of nonbonding electrons, we get the following:
Vc = 6 (6 valence electrons for oxygen)
B = 2 (since oxygen forms two bonds with chlorine)
Nb = 4 (because oxygen has two lone pairs, which count as 4 nonbonding electrons)
So, the formal charge on oxygen in Cl₂O would be:
Fc = Ve - (B + Nb)
Fc = 6 - (2 + 4)
Fc = 0
Therefore, the formal charge on the central oxygen atom in Cl₂O is zero.