| Formaldehyde (H2CO) is composed of two hydrogen atoms, one carbon atom and one oxygen atom. The carbon-oxygen bond
is a double bond, while the carbon-hydrogen bonds are single bonds. There are two unshared electrons pairs on the oxygen
atom (indicated by the yellow arrows). The carbon atom has 8 electrons in its valence shell, the oxygen atom also has
8 electrons in its valence shell and each hydrogen atom has 2 electrons in its valence shell. This fulfills the Octet Rule.
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| Formaldehyde has a trigonal planar molecular shape.
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| The electron pair geometry around the carbon atom is trigonal planar. There are 3 groups of
electrons around the central carbon atom (indicated by the red arrows).
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| This is the structural formula for formaldehyde.
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| Formaldehyde has molecular polarity. The partial
specific negative charge is on the oxygen atom and the partial specific positive charge is on the carbon atom.
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| Animated molecular model of formaldehyde.
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