Ions Reference

Greek Prefixes
  1. Mono-
  2. Di-
  3. Tri-
  4. Tetra-
  5. Penta-
  6. Hexa-
  7. Hepta-
  8. Octa-
  9. Nona-
  10. Deca-
Common Compounds
H2O Water
NH3 Ammonia
CH4 Methane
C2H5OH or CH3CH2OH or C2H6O Ethanol
Monatomic Ions

Add to this table the hydrogen ion (H+), which is the ion found in acids. Compounds formed from H+ and some anion are acids. Consult your notes and the textbook on how to name acids.

Group 1 Group 2   Group 13 Group 14 Group 15 Group 16 Group 17
Li+ Be2+ B3+ N3– O2– F
Na+ Mg2+ Al3+ Si4+ P3– S2– Cl
K+ Ca2+ Ga3+ Ge4+ As3– Se2– Br
Rb+ Sr2+ In3+ Sn2+ / Sn4+ Sb3– Te2– I
Cs+ Ba2+ Tl1+ / Tl3+  Pb2+ / Pb4+ Bi3+ / Bi5+

Here is a table of the transition metal ions. Do not memorize charges but be able to figure out the charges from the names or formulas of compounds.

Group 3 Group 4 Group 5 Group 6 Group 7 Group 8 Group 9 Group 10 Group 11 Group 12
 Sc 
3+
 Ti 
4+ / 3+ / 2+
 V 
5+ / 4+ / 3+ / 2+
 Cr 
6+ / 3+ / 2+
 Mn 
4+ / 2+ / 3+
 Fe 
2+ / 3+
 Co 
2+ / 3+
 Ni 
2+ / 3+
 Cu 
2+ / 1+
 Zn 
2+
 Y 
3+
 Zr 
4+
             Ag 
1+
 Cd 
2+
 La 
3+
 Hf 
4+
             Au 
3+ / 1+
 Hg2+ / Hg22+ 
Here are some polyatomic ions. Memorize those in bold.

1– Anions
Acetate C2H3O2
Chlorate ClO3
Chlorite ClO2
Cyanide CN
Dihydrogen Phosphate H2PO4
Hydride H
Hydrogen Carbonate HCO3
Hydrogen sulfate HSO4
Hydroxide OH
Hypochlorite ClO
Nitrate NO3
Nitrite NO2
Perchlorate ClO4
Permanganate MnO4
Thiocyanate SCN
2– Anions
Carbonate CO32–
Chromate CrO42–
Dichromate Cr2O72–
Hydrogen phosphate HPO42–
Oxalate C2O42–
Selenate SeO42–
Sulfate SO42–
Sulfite SO32–
Thiosulfate S2O32–
3– Anions
Arsenate AsO43–
Borate BO33–
Phosphate PO43–
1+ Cation
Ammonium NH41+















This page is useful with the Chemical Nomenclature Group Activity.
Last updated: Apr 25, 2023        Home