POLYATOMIC IONS

Julie’s Study Guides

http://guidesbyjulie.blogspot.com/
1 
-1 ions
Acetate CH3COO-
Bromate BrO3-
Chlorate ClO3-
Chlorite ClO2-
Cyanide CN-
Dihydrogen phosphate H2PO4-
Hydrogen carbonate HCO3-
(bicarbonate)
Hydrogen sulfate HSO4-
Hydroxide OH-
Hypochlorite ClO-
Nitrate NO3-
Nitrite NO2-
Perchlorate ClO4-
Permanganate MnO4-

-2 ions
Carbonate CO3-2
Chromate CrO4-2
Dichromate Cr2O7-2
Hydrogen phosphate HPO4-2
Oxalate C2O4-2
Peroxide O2-2
Sulfate SO4-2
Sulfite SO3-2

-3 ions
Arsenate AsO4-3
Phosphate PO4-3

Positive ions
Ammonium NH4+
POLYATOMIC IONS
Julie’s Study Guides
http://guidesbyjulie.blogspot.com/
2 
Dimercury Hg2+2

Oxyanions (example)
Hypochlorite ClO-
Chlorite ClO2-
Chlorate ClO3-
Perchlorate ClO4-

Some tips, in case you are having problems memorizing these, follow:

™ Try to connect the charges and bonding to the periodic table. For example,
arsenic and phosphate belong to the same group and therefore bond with the
same number of oxygen atoms (producing compounds with the same
charge).
™ Remember, sulfur is the only one on the list with an “-ate” ion with four
oxygen atoms and an “-ite” ion with three oxygen atoms.
™ For the oxyanions chart, remember your prefixes. “Hypo” means less/fewer,
“(Hy-)per” means more.

See also: page 858 in the Pre-IB Chemistry book (Modern Chemistry) or page 107 in
the AP Chemistry book (Chemistry and Chemical Reactivity) or page 158 in the
Barron's AP Chemistry guide.