To calculate the formal charge of the nitrogen atom in HCN, we can use the following formula:Formal charge = Valence electrons of the atom - Non-bonding electrons - 0.5 * Bonding electrons In HCN, the nitrogen atom is bonded to the carbon atom with a triple bond. Nitrogen has 5 valence electrons, and since it forms a triple bond with carbon, it has 6 bonding electrons 3 pairs and no non-bonding electrons.Now, we can plug these values into the formula:Formal charge of N = 5 - 0 - 0.5 * 6 Formal charge of N = 5 - 0 - 3Formal charge of N = 2Therefore, the formal charge of the nitrogen atom in HCN is +2.