Symbol
H+
Li+
Na+
K+
Rb+
Cs+
Be2+
Mg2+
Ca2+
Sr2+
Ba2+
Ra2+
Ag+
Zn2+
Symbols and Charges for Monoatomic
Name
Symbol
hydrogen ion
Hlithium ion
Fsodium ion
Clpotassium ion
Brrubidium ion
Icesium ion
O2beryllium ion
S2magnesium ion
Se2calcium ion
Te2strontium ion
N3barium ion
P3radium ion
As3silver ion
Ni2+
zinc ion
Al3+
Ions - Fixed Charge
Name
hydride
fluoride
chloride
bromide
iodide
oxide
sulfide
selenide
telluride
nitride
phosphide
arsenide
nickel ion
aluminum ion
Note that the letters in an ion's name before the -ide ending is the stem. For example,
the stem for bromide is brom-. The P for phosphide is a capital P. Some sources will have
nickel as a variable charge monoatomic ion, the charges being +2 and +4.
Symbols and Charges for Monoatomic Ions - Variable Charge
Systematic name Common
Systematic name Common
Symbol (Stock system) name
Symbol (Stock system) name
Cu+
copper(I)
cuprous
Hg22+
mercury(I)
mercurous
Cu2+
copper(II)
cupric
Hg2+
mercury(II)
mercuric
Fe2+
iron(II)
ferrous
Pb2+
lead(II)
plumbous
Fe3+
iron(III)
ferric
Pb4+
lead(IV)
plumbic
Sn2+
tin(II)
stannous
Co2+
cobalt(II)
cobaltous
Sn4+
tin(IV)
stannic
Co3+
cobalt(III)
cobaltic
Cr2+
chromium(II)
chromous
Au+
gold(I)
aurous
Cr3+
chromium(III) chromic
Au3+
gold(III)
auric
Mn2+
manganese(II) manganous
Mn3+
manganese(III) manganic
Formula
NO3NO2CrO42Cr2O72CNMnO4OHO22NH2CO32SO42SO32C2O42PO43PO33S2O32AsO43SeO42SiO32C4H4O62C2H3O2-
Symbols and Charges for Polyatomic Ions
Name
Formula
Name
nitrate
ClO4perchlorate
nitrite
ClO3chlorate
chromate
ClO2chlorite
dichromate
ClOhypochlorite
cyanide
IO4periodate
permanganate
IO3iodate
hydroxide
IOhypoiodite
peroxide
BrO3bromate
amide
BrOhypobromite
carbonate
HCO3hydrogen carbonate (bicarbonate)
sulfate
HSO4hydrogen sulfate (bisulfate)
sulfite
HSO3hydrogen sulfite (bisulfite)
oxalate
HC2O4hydrogen oxalate (binoxalate)
phosphate
HPO42hydrogen phosphate
phosphite
H2PO4dihydrogen phosphate
thiosulfate
HShydrogen sulfide
arsenate
BO33borate
selenate
B4O72tetraborate
silicate
SiF62hexafluorosilicate
tartrate
SCNthiocyanate
acetate (an alternate way to write acetate is CH3COO-)
There is one positive polyatomic ion. It is NH4+ and is called the ammonium ion.
Note: Writing just plus sign or minus sign for ions with +1 or -1 charges is acceptable.