Question

How do you calculate formal charge of CO?

Answer 1

The formal charge of carbon monoxide gas is `"ZERO"`.

Explanation:

In some representations, we depict charge separation in the carbon monoxide molecule: `""^(-):C-=O^+`, and of course, here, the formal charge of the `"molecule"` is still zero. I tend to like this representation because it suggests that carbon monoxide binds thru the carbon nucleus, which is what is typically observed.