Chemistry: Common Cation Names and Symbols for Ions

H+

hydrogen ion

NH4+

ammonium ion

Li+

lithium ion

Cu+

copper(I) or cuprous ion

Na+

sodium ion

K+

potassium ion

Cs+

cesium ion

Ag+

silver ion

Mg2+

magnesium ion

Co2+

cobalt(II) or cobaltous ion

Ca2+

calcium ion

Cu2+

copper(II) or cupric ion

Sr2+

strontium ion

Fe2+

iron(II) or ferrous ion

Ba2+

barium ion

Mn2+

manganese(II) or manganous ion

Zn2+

zinc ion

Hg2^2+

mercury(I) or mercurous ion

Cd2+

cadmium ion

Hg2+

mercury(II) or mercuric ion

Ni2+

nickel(II) or nickelous ion

Pb2+

lead(II) or plumbous ion

Sn2+

tin(II) or stannous ion

Al3+

aluminum ion

Cr3+

chromium(III) or chromic ion

Fe3+

iron(III) or ferric ion

H⁻

hydride ion

O²⁻

oxide ion

N³-

nitride ion

S²⁻

sulfide ion

O₂²⁻

peroxide ion

OH⁻

hydroxide ion

CN⁻

cyanide ion

F⁻

fluoride ion

Cl⁻

chloride ion

Br⁻

bromide ion

I⁻

iodide ion

ClO⁻

hypochlorite ion (one O atom fewer than chlorite)

ClO₂⁻

chlorite ion (one O atom fewer than chlorate)

ClO₃⁻

chlorate ion

ClO₄⁻

perchlorate ion (one more O atom than chlorate)

NO₂⁻

nitrite ion

NO₃⁻

nitrate ion

SO₃²⁻

sulfite ion

SO₄²⁻

sulfate ion

CO₃²⁻

carbonate ion

HCO₃⁻

hydrogen carbonate ion

PO₄³⁻

phosphate ion

H₂PO₄⁻

dihydrogen phosphate ion

CH₃COO⁻ (or C₂H₃O₂⁻)

acetate ion

MnO₄⁻

permanganate ion

CrO₄²⁻

chromate ion

Cr₂O₇²⁻

dichromate ion

CaCl₂

calcium chloride

Al(NO₃)₃

aluminum nitrate

Cu(ClO₄)₂

copper(II) perchlorite (or cupric perchlorate)