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Chemistry Forums for Students => High School Chemistry Forum => Topic started by: taw786 on October 13, 2004, 07:40:05 PM

Title: polyatomic ions
Post by: taw786 on October 13, 2004, 07:40:05 PM

I JUST WANTED TO KNOW EXACTLY HOW DO YOU NAME POLTATOMIC IONS?

Title: Re:polyatomic ions
Post by: Tetrahedrite on October 13, 2004, 09:38:50 PM

As far as I know, the best way to name polyatomic ions is to learn them from a table :). There are however a few rules that can be useful:
Oxyanions containing elements such as S,P,As,N,B,Se,Te,C when at their most oxidised state, have the suffix -ate eg SO4 2- sulfate, AsO4 3- Arsenate, NO3- Nitrate etc.
When they are in a lower oxidation state they often have the suffix -ite eg SO3 2- Sulfite, NO2- Nitrite, AsO3 3- Arsenite
If the ion is partially protonated it has the prefix bi- eg HSO4- Bisulfate and HCO3 2- bicarbonate

Title: Re:polyatomic ions
Post by: AWK on October 14, 2004, 01:59:16 AM

Also cations can be polyatomic, eg: NH4(+), UO2(2+),  most aminoacids under pH ~4 - 5.