- #1
mnnob07
- 17
- 0
below are two simple compounds. this is from a first semester general chemistry test and there were four compounds total all with the same number of C H and O we had to tell which one was least stable and why.
I don't remember the other two because both had a formal charge of 0 on everything while these two had a +1 on the O (most of the time not a good sign) and -1 on the C.
I picked the first one as less stable because of the formal charges and because I was used to seeing the hydrogen atoms bonded to the C.
Can anyone tell me if I was right and what is the best way to approach these problems aside from straight formal charges?
I don't remember the other two because both had a formal charge of 0 on everything while these two had a +1 on the O (most of the time not a good sign) and -1 on the C.
I picked the first one as less stable because of the formal charges and because I was used to seeing the hydrogen atoms bonded to the C.
Can anyone tell me if I was right and what is the best way to approach these problems aside from straight formal charges?