Question

What is the formal charge on each of the atoms in the Lewis structure of the PO4 (-3) charge?


Draw another possible Lewis structure of the phosphate ion below. Formal charge on P is ?

-how do I do this problem.

Answer 1

I have been able to draw a few very simple Lewis structures but most cannot be drawn because of the way the boards handles spaces (it recognizes only the first space and ignores the other ones). Here is a site that will give that.
http://www.google.com/search?q=lewis+structure+PO4^-3&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a

The formal charge on each O atoms is -1 and the formal charge on the central P atoms is +1.