List of common cations and anions

Cations

1+
+

H
Li+
Na+
K+
Rb+
Cs+
NH4+
Ag+
Cu+

2+

Hydrogen
Lithium
Sodium
Potassium
Rubidium
Cesium
Ammonium
Silver
Copper(I)

2+

Mg
Ca2+
Ba2+
Sr2+
Zn2+
Cd2+
Cu2+
Fe2+
Pb2+
Co2+
Mn2+
Sn2+

3+

Magnesium
Calcium
Barium
Strontium
Zinc
Cadmium
Copper(II)
Iron(II)
Lead(II)
Cobalt(II)
Manganese(II)
Tin(II)

3+

Al
Fe3+
Cr3+

Aluminium
Iron(III)
Chromium(III)

Anions

1-

F
Fluoride
ClChloride
BrBromide
IIodide
OH
Hydroxide
ClO3Chlorate
NO3
Nitrate
NO2Nitrite
CN
Cyanide
H2PO4 Di-Hydrogen Phosphate
HCO3Bicarbonate
HSO4
Bisulphate
SCNThiocyanate
MnO4Permanganate
HAnhydride

22-

O
Oxide
S2Sulphide
CO32Carbonate
SO42Sulphate
2SO3
Sulphite
CrO42Chromate
Cr2O72Dichromate
HPO42- Hydrogen Phosphate
O22Peroxide

33-

N
Nitride
PO43- Phosphate

Note: Some cations particularly transition metal cations can have more than one charge, depending on
what other chemicals are around.
To differentiate between charges, we can use roman numerals to specify the charge.
For example, Fe(II) means that the iron cation has a charge of 2+, Fe2+, whereas Fe(III) would be Fe3+.
There are alternative names for these ions (ferrous and ferric iron respectively) that can be used too.

Ionic Solubility Table

Soluble ions

Exceptions (insoluble)

Alkali metals (Li+, Na+, K+, Rb+, Cs+),

ammonium (NH4+)
Nitrates (NO3-), bicarbonates (HCO3-),
chlorates (ClO3-)
Chlorides, bromides, iodides (Cl-, Br-, I-) Ag+, Hg22+, Pb2+
Sulphates (SO4 )

Ag+, Hg22+, Pb2+,

Ca2+, Sr2+, Ba2+

Insoluble ions

Exceptions (soluble)

Carbonates (CO32-), sulphides (S2-),

phosphates (PO43-), chromates (CrO42-)

Alkali metals and

ammonium

Hydroxides (OH-)

Alkali metals and

barium (Ba2+)

2-

Salts containing a soluble ion will remain dissolved unless mixed with an exception.
Salts containing an insoluble ion will precipitate out unless the only other ions present
are exceptions.