Chemistry · CHEMICAL BONDING AND MOLECULAR STRUCTURE

Given below are two statements: one is labelled as Assertion (A) and the other is labelled as Reason (R). Assertion (A): Formal charges in a Lewis structure represent real and actual charge separation within a polyatomic molecule or ion. Reason (R): Formal charges help in keeping track of valence electrons and selecting the lowest energy structure among multiple possible Lewis structures. In the light of the above statements, choose the correct answer from the options given below:

1. A
   Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
2. B
   Both (A) and (R) are true but (R) is NOT the correct explanation of (A).
3. C
   (A) is true but (R) is false.
4. D
   (A) is false but (R) is true.