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General Chemistry

Common Simple Cations and Anions

Cation Symbol

Name

Anion Symbol

Name

H+

hydrogen ion

hydride

Li+

lithium ion

fluoride

Na

sodium ion

Cl

chloride

K+

potassium ion

Br

bromide

Cs+

cesium ion

2+

I
2

iodide

Be

beryllium ion

Mg2+

magnesium ion

S2

sulfide

nitride

2+

calcium ion

2+

barium ion

Ca
Ba

Al3+
Ag

oxide

aluminum ion

silver ion

Zn2+

zinc ion

Cd2+

cadmium ion

Common Type II Cations

Ion

Systematic Name

Older Name

3+

iron(III)

ferric

2+

iron(II)

ferrous

copper(II)

cupric

copper(I)

cuprous

Co3+

cobalt(III)

cobaltic

Co2+

cobalt(II)

cobaltous

tin(IV)

stannic

Fe
Fe

Cu2+
Cu

Sn

4+

Sn2+

tin(II)

stannous

Pb

4+

lead(IV)

plumbic

Pb

2+

lead(II)

plumbous

mercury(II)

mercuric

mercury(I)

mercurous

Hg2+
2+

Hg2
*

Note that mercury(I) ions always occur bound together to form Hg+

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Names of Common Polyatomic Ions
Ion

Name

Ion

Name

NH4+

ammonium ion

CO32

carbonate ion

NO2

nitrite ion

HCO3

hydrogen carbonate ion

(bicarbonate ion commonly used)

NO3

nitrate ion

ClO

hypochlorite ion

SO32

sulfite ion

ClO2

chlorite ion

SO42

sulfate ion

ClO3

chlorate ion

HSO4

hydrogen sulfate ion

(bisulfate ion commonly used)

ClO4

perchlorate ion

OH

hydroxide ion

CH3COO or C2H3O2

CN

cyanide ion

SCN

thiocyanate ion

(COO)22-

PO43

phosphate ion

Cr2O72-

dichromate ion

HPO42

hydrogen phosphate ion

CrO42-

chromate ion

H2PO4

dihydrogen phosphate ion

O22

peroxide ion

AsO43-

arsenate ion

MnO4

acetate ion
permanganate ion
oxalate ion

Note: The following halogens can form polyatomic ions in the same manner as chlorine:
BrO
BrO2
BrO3
BrO4

hypobromite ion
bromite ion
bromate ion
perbromate ion

IO
IO2
IO3
IO4

hypoiodite ion
iodite ion
iodate ion
periodate ion