Polyatomic Ions Study Notes

Polyatomic Ions

Overview of Polyatomic Ions

  • Polyatomic ions are ions composed of two or more atoms which are covalently bonded.
    • They carry a net charge, which can be positive or negative.

Names and Formulas of Common Polyatomic Ions

Positive Polyatomic Ions
  • Ion: NH₄⁺
    Name: Ammonium
  • Ion: H₃O⁺
    Name: Hydronium
Negative Polyatomic Ions
  • Ion: OH⁻
    Name: Hydroxide
  • Ion: CN⁻
    Name: Cyanide
  • Ion: NO₂⁻
    Name: Nitrite
  • Ion: NO₃⁻
    Name: Nitrate
  • Ion: ClO⁻
    Name: Hypochlorite
  • Ion: ClO₂⁻
    Name: Chlorite
  • Ion: ClO₃⁻
    Name: Chlorate
  • Ion: ClO₄⁻
    Name: Perchlorate
  • Ion: SO₃²⁻
    Name: Sulfite
  • Ion: SO₄²⁻
    Name: Sulfate
  • Ion: HSO₄⁻
    Name: Hydrogen sulfate (or Bisulfate)
  • Ion: CO₃²⁻
    Name: Carbonate
  • Ion: HCO₃⁻
    Name: Hydrogen carbonate (or Bicarbonate)
  • Ion: PO₄³⁻
    Name: Phosphate
  • Ion: HPO₄²⁻
    Name: Hydrogen phosphate
  • Ion: H₂PO₄⁻
    Name: Dihydrogen phosphate
  • Ion: C₂O₄²⁻
    Name: Oxalate
  • Ion: SCN⁻
    Name: Thiocyanate
  • Ion: OCN⁻
    Name: Cyanate
  • Ion: MnO₄⁻
    Name: Permanganate
  • Ion: Cr₂O₇²⁻
    Name: Dichromate
  • Ion: CrO₄²⁻
    Name: Chromate
  • Ion: S₂O₃²⁻
    Name: Thiosulfate

Summary Table of Common Polyatomic Ions

IonNameCharge
NH₄⁺Ammonium+1
OH⁻Hydroxide-1
CN⁻Cyanide-1
NO₂⁻Nitrite-1
NO₃⁻Nitrate-1
ClO⁻Hypochlorite-1
ClO₂⁻Chlorite-1
ClO₃⁻Chlorate-1
ClO₄⁻Perchlorate-1
SO₃²⁻Sulfite-2
SO₄²⁻Sulfate-2
HSO₄⁻Hydrogen sulfate (Bisulfate)-1
CO₃²⁻Carbonate-2
HCO₃⁻Hydrogen carbonate (Bicarbonate)-1
PO₄³⁻Phosphate-3
HPO₄²⁻Hydrogen phosphate-2
H₂PO₄⁻Dihydrogen phosphate-1
C₂O₄²⁻Oxalate-2
SCN⁻Thiocyanate-1
OCN⁻Cyanate-1
MnO₄⁻Permanganate-1
Cr₂O₇²⁻Dichromate-2
CrO₄²⁻Chromate-2
S₂O₃²⁻Thiosulfate-2

Conclusion

  • Proper identification and memorization of these polyatomic ions are crucial for understanding and solving chemical equations, as well as predicting the behavior of various chemical compounds.