General Chemistry Ion Charges, Solubility, Strong Acids & Bases

Vocabulary flashcards covering ion charges for element groups, solubility rules, common precipitates, polyatomic ions, and the formulas of strong acids and bases.

Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs; always form +1 ions (H can be +1 or −1).

Alkali Metals (Group 1)

Be, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba; always form +2 ions.

Alkaline Earth Metals (Group 2)

F, Cl, Br, I; form −1 ions and names end in “-ide” (e.g., chloride = Cl−).

Halogens (Group 17)

He, Ne, Ar, Kr, Xe; generally non-reactive, do not form common ions.

Noble Gases (Group 18)

Solubility Rule – Group 1 Compounds

All salts containing alkali metal cations are soluble in water.

Solubility Rule – Nitrates

All nitrate (NO3−) salts are soluble.

Solubility Rule – Acetates

All acetate (C2H3O2−) salts are soluble.

Solubility Rule – Ammonium

All ammonium (NH4+) salts are soluble.

Common Precipitate – BaSO4

Barium sulfate is insoluble and forms a precipitate.

Common Precipitate – AgCl

Silver chloride is insoluble and forms a precipitate.

Common Precipitate – PbI2

Lead(II) iodide is insoluble and forms a precipitate.

Silver ion

Ag+ (transition-metal exception with fixed +1 charge).

Zinc ion

Zn2+ (transition-metal exception with fixed +2 charge).

Nitrate

NO3− polyatomic ion.

Nitrite

NO2− polyatomic ion.

Ammonium

NH4+ polyatomic ion.

Hydronium

H3O+ polyatomic ion (acidic protonated water).

Bicarbonate (Hydrogen carbonate)

HCO3− polyatomic ion.

Hydroxide

OH− polyatomic ion; strong-base anion.

Bisulfate (Hydrogen sulfate)

HSO4− polyatomic ion.

Bisulfide (Hydrogen sulfide ion)

HS− polyatomic ion.

Bisulfite (Hydrogen sulfite)

HSO3− polyatomic ion.

Bromate

BrO3− polyatomic ion.

Bromite

BrO2− polyatomic ion.

Hypobromite

BrO− polyatomic ion.

Perbromate

BrO4− polyatomic ion.

Chlorate

ClO3− polyatomic ion.

Chlorite

ClO2− polyatomic ion.

Hypochlorite

ClO− polyatomic ion.

Perchlorate

ClO4− polyatomic ion.

Iodate

IO3− polyatomic ion.

Iodite

IO2− polyatomic ion.

Hypoiodite

IO− polyatomic ion.

Periodate

IO4− polyatomic ion.

Carbonate

CO3^2− polyatomic ion.

Chromate

CrO4^2− polyatomic ion (yellow).

Dichromate

Cr2O7^2− polyatomic ion (orange).

Oxalate

C2O4^2− polyatomic ion.

Sulfate

SO4^2− polyatomic ion.

Sulfite

SO3^2− polyatomic ion.

Permanganate

MnO4− polyatomic ion (purple).

Peroxide

O2^2− polyatomic ion.

Phosphate

PO4^3− polyatomic ion.

Phosphite

PO3^3− polyatomic ion.

Thiocyanate

SCN− polyatomic ion.

Cyanide

CN− polyatomic ion (toxic).

Acetate

C2H3O2− (CH3COO−) polyatomic ion.

Hydrochloric acid

HCl – strong acid.

Hydrobromic acid

HBr – strong acid.

Hydroiodic acid

HI – strong acid.

Sulfuric acid

H2SO4 – strong acid (diprotic).

Nitric acid

HNO3 – strong acid.

Chloric acid

HClO3 – strong acid.

Perchloric acid

HClO4 – strong acid.

Lithium hydroxide

LiOH – strong base.

Sodium hydroxide

NaOH – strong base.

Potassium hydroxide

KOH – strong base.

Rubidium hydroxide

RbOH – strong base.

Cesium hydroxide

CsOH – strong base.

Calcium hydroxide

Ca(OH)2 – strong base.

Strontium hydroxide

Sr(OH)2 – strong base.

Barium hydroxide

Ba(OH)2 – strong base.