CHEMISTRY

Course summary

 Atoms, compounds, and ions

 Chemical reactions and stoichiometry
 Electronic structure of atoms
 Periodic table
 Chemical bonds
 Gases and kinetic molecular theory
 States of matter and intermolecular forces
 Chemical equilibrium
 Acids and bases
 Buffers, titrations, and solubility equilibria
 Thermodynamics
 Redox reactions and electrochemistry

 Atoms, compounds, and ions

 Chemical reactions and stoichiometry

 Electronic structure of atoms

 Periodic table

 Chemical bonds

 Gases and kinetic molecular theory

 States of matter and intermolecular forces

 Chemical equilibrium

 Acids and bases

 Buffers, titrations, and solubility equilibria

 Thermodynamics

 Redox reactions and electrochemistry

Naming monatomic ions and ionic compounds

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Close up view of colorless sodium chloride crystals, which have the

overall shape of a cube.
Sodium chloride is an ionic compound made up of sodium ions and chloride ions in a crystal lattice. Image
credit: Wikipedia Commons, public domain

Atoms are electrically neutral because the number of protons, which

carry a 1+ charge, in the nucleus of an atom is equal to the number of
electrons, which carry a 1- charge, in the atom. The result is that the total
positive charge of the protons cancels out the total negative charge of the
electrons so that the net charge of the atom is zero. Most atoms, however,
can either gain or lose electrons; when they do so, the number of
electrons becomes different from the number of protons in the nucleus.
The resulting charged species is called an ion.

Cations and anions

When a neutral atom loses one or more electrons, the total number of
electrons decreases while the number of protons in the nucleus remains
the same. The result is that the atom becomes a cation—an ion with a
net positive charge.

The opposite process can also occur. When a neutral atom gains one or
more electrons, the number of electrons increases while the number of
protons in the nucleus remains the same. The result is that the atom
becomes an anion—an ion with a net negative charge. We can illustrate
this by examining some very simple cations and anions, those formed
when a single hydrogen atom loses or gains an electron.

Note: Hydrogen is actually somewhat unusual in that it readily forms both

cations and anions. Most elements much prefer to form only one or the
other. In terms of its electron configuration, can you explain why hydrogen
can form both cations and anions? Feel free to post in the comments at the
end of the article!
A hydrogen cation, a hydrogen atom, and a hydrogen anion.
 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~\text{H}^
-
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~
H− s
pace, space,
space, space,
space, space,
space, space,
~~~~~~~~~\tex
space, space,
t{H}^+~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~\
space, space,
~~ H+ text{H}~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
space, space,
space, space, ~~~~~ H
space, space,
space, space, space, space, space,
space, space,
space, space, space, space, space, space,
start text, H,
space, space, space, space, space, space,
end text, start
space, start space, space, space, space,
superscript,
text, H, end space, space, space, space,
minus, end
text, start space, space, space, space,
superscript,
superscript, space, start text, H, end
space, space,
plus, end text, space, space, space,
space, space,
superscript, space, space, space, space,
space, space,
space, space, space, space, space, space,
space, space,
space, space, space, space, space, space,
space, space,
space, space, space, space, space, space,
space, space,
space, space, space, space, space, space,
space, space,
space space
space, space,
 space, space,
space

Cla
ssif
icat
ion cation neutral atom anion

No.
of
pro
ton
s 111 111 111

No.
of
elec
tro
ns 000 111 222

Net
cha
rge 111++plus 000 111-−minus
If a neutral hydrogen atom ( \text{H}Hstart text, H, end text, center) loses an electron, it becomes a
hydrogen cation ( \text{H}^+H+start text, H, end text, start superscript, plus, end superscript, left).
Conversely, if the neutral \text{H}Hstart text, H, end text atom gains an electron, it becomes a hydrogen
anion ( \text{H}^-H−start text, H, end text, start superscript, minus, end superscript, right), also known as a
hydride ion. Image credit: adapted from Boundless Learning, CC BY-SA 4.0.

In the center column, we have a diagram of a single, neutral hydrogen

atom. It contains one proton and one electron; thus, its net charge is zero.
If hydrogen loses its electron, it forms the cation \text{H}^+H+start text,
H, end text, start superscript, plus, end superscript (left column).
The \text{H}^+H+start text, H, end text, start superscript, plus, end
superscript cation has a net charge of 1+ from the one proton in the
nucleus since there are no electrons to cancel out the positive charge. If
neutral hydrogen gains an electron, it forms the anion \text{H}^-H−start
text, H, end text, start superscript, minus, end superscript (right column).
The \text{H}^-H−start text, H, end text, start superscript, minus, end
superscript anion has a net charge of 1- because it has one extra electron
compared to the total number of protons.

Concept check: A certain ion has 20 protons and 18 electrons. What

kind of element is this ion, and what is its net charge?
[Show the answer.]

\text{Ca}start text, C, a, end text

\begin{aligned} \text{Charge from protons}:20 \times (1+)&=20+ \\ \\

\text{Charge from electrons}:18 \times (1-)&=18- \\\hline \\\text{Net
charge}:(20+)+(18-)&=2+\end{aligned}

_{20}\text{Ca}^{2+}start subscript, 20, end subscript, start text, C, a, end

text, start superscript, 2, plus, end superscript\text{Ca}^{2+}start text, C,
a, end text, start superscript, 2, plus, end superscript

Predicting charges on monatomic cations

and anions
Did you know that you can use the periodic table to predict the charges
certain elements will have when they ionize? This is a very convenient
and powerful tool, so it's worth examining in some detail. The following
figure summarizes the common charges for the elements in the eight
main groups, or families, on the periodic table. Remember that periodic
groups refer to columns on the periodic table, whereas rows are known
as periods. Keep in mind that these charges only apply when these
elements are found in ionic compounds since covalent compounds don't
contain ions.
[What is the difference between covalent and ionic compounds?]

For Group 14 elements, forming cations with a 4+ charge is much more common than forming anions with
a 4- charge. Carbon, however, can form both types of ions, so we include both charges here.

As a general rule of thumb, the main group elements will usually gain or
lose electrons in order to get a full octet of valence electrons. By figuring
out how many electrons an element is likely to lose or gain to reach a full
octet, we can predict the charge on the ion. This requires first knowing
how many valence electrons are in the neutral atom.

Tip: The number of valence electrons in the neutral atom is equal to the
number in the \blueD{1}1start color #11accd, 1, end color #11accds place
in the new IUPAC group number.
Elements that form cations
For groups 1, 2, 13, and 14, the elements have one to four valence
electrons as neutral atoms, and they will usually give away these valence
electrons to become ions—carbon is sometimes an exception to this
trend since it can also gain four electrons to form the \text C^{4-}C4−start
text, C, end text, start superscript, 4, minus, end superscript anion. Since
the resulting ion has fewer electrons than protons, the net charge on the
ion is positive. The magnitude of the charge is equal to the number of
electrons lost, which is equal to the number of valence electrons in the
neutral atom.

For example, what if we wanted to predict the charge on an aluminum

ion? Aluminum is in group 13, or IIIA. Since the group number, 1
\blueD3131, start color #11accd, 3, end color #11accd, has the
number \blueD 33start color #11accd, 3, end color #11accd in the 111s
place, we would predict the charge to be \blueD 33start color #11accd, 3,
end color #11accd\blueD ++start color #11accd, plus, end color
#11accd to give \text{Al}^{3+}Al3+start text, A, l, end text, start
superscript, 3, plus, end superscript. We can also think about a neutral
aluminum atom losing its three valence electrons to
become \text{Al}^{3+}Al3+start text, A, l, end text, start superscript, 3, plus,
end superscript, which has a full octet.
[Can we relate this to electron configuration?]

\text{Al}^{3+}start text, A, l, end text, start superscript, 3, plus, end

superscript\text {Ne}start text, N, e, end text

\text{1s}^2 \text{2s}^2 \text{2p}^6start text, 1, s, end text, squared, start

text, 2, s, end text, squared, start text, 2, p, end text, start superscript, 6,
end superscript
Elements that form anions
For groups 15 through 17, the charge is usually negative because these
elements are more likely to gain than lose electrons. The charge on the
ion is therefore equal in magnitude to the number of electrons gained to
reach a full octet of eight valence electrons. Mathematically, we can
calculate the magnitude of the charge by subtracting the number of
valence electrons in the neutral atom from eight. We can also use the
periodic table to count how many columns to the right we need to go to
reach the noble gases, group 18, where each adjacent column counts as
one electron that needs to be gained to reach the full octet.

If we use these guidelines to predict the charge on a sulfur ion, which is

in group 16, we predict that the magnitude of the charge is 8-6=28−6=28,
minus, 6, equals, 2 since sulfur has six valence electrons. We can also find
the number of valence electrons by checking sulfur's group number,
group 16, which has a 666 in the 111s place. That means that a neutral
sulfur atom will need to gain two electrons to reach a full octet of eight
electrons. Therefore, we predict that the most common charge on a
sulfur ion will be 2-.

Concept check: What ionic compound would you predict to form in

a reaction between potassium metal and liquid bromine?
[Show the answer.]

\text{K}^+start text, K, end text, start superscript, plus, end superscript

\text{Br}^-start text, B, r, end text, start superscript, minus, end

superscript
\text{KBr}start text, K, B, r, end text
Naming cations
Now that we know that many common elements take on predictable
charges, let's consider how to name the ions. We'll first look at the alkali
metals—the elements in group 1 on the periodic table. From the figure
above, we can see that the alkali metals tend to form cations with a 1+
charge. Thus, these cations include \text{H}^+H+start text, H, end text,
start superscript, plus, end superscript, \text{Li}^+Li+start text, L, i, end
text, start superscript, plus, end superscript, \text{Na}^+Na+start text, N,
a, end text, start superscript, plus, end superscript, \text{K}^+K+start text,
K, end text, start superscript, plus, end superscript, and so on. Naming
these types of cations requires no special rule. For instance, we can refer
to a hydrogen cation, \text{H}^+H+start text, H, end text, start superscript,
plus, end superscript, simply by calling it "\text{H}Hstart text, H, end text-
plus" or a "hydrogen ion". Similarly, a sodium cation, \text{Na}^+Na+start
text, N, a, end text, start superscript, plus, end superscript, can be called
"\text{Na}Nastart text, N, a, end text-plus", "sodium plus", or most
commonly, a "sodium ion". Note that it is unnecessary to say "a one plus
sodium ion", because it is understood that a sodium ion usually has a 1+
charge.

The same logic also applies to all other elements that typically form
cations of one particular charge. For instance, the alkaline earth metals,
group 2, form cations with a charge of 2+: \text{Be}^{2+}Be2+start text, B,
e, end text, start superscript, 2, plus, end
superscript, \text{Mg}^{2+}Mg2+start text, M, g, end text, start superscript,
2, plus, end superscript, \text{Ca}^{2+}Ca2+start text, C, a, end text, start
superscript, 2, plus, end superscript, etc. While we often refer to an ion
such as \text{Mg}^{2+}Mg2+start text, M, g, end text, start superscript, 2,
plus, end superscript as "magnesium two-plus", we could also simply say
"magnesium ion", since it's understood what the charge on a magnesium
ion is.

Note: The discussion in this section is mainly for naming cations by

themselves, and the naming convention will be slightly different when the
cation is part of an ionic compound. The naming of ionic compounds will
be discussed separately below!

Elements that form multiple types of cations

So far, we have considered elements that typically form cations of one
particular charge. For example, the alkali metals and the alkaline earth
metals usually form 1+ ions and 2+ ions, respectively. Most transition
metals, however, can form cations of various charges. That is why the d-
block of the periodic table figure above has been labeled "variable
charges". Iron, for instance, is often found as both
the \text{Fe}^{2+}Fe2+start text, F, e, end text, start superscript, 2, plus,
end superscript and \text{Fe}^{3+}Fe3+start text, F, e, end text, start
superscript, 3, plus, end superscript cations, and sometimes other
charges as well. Thus, iron is polyvalent, which literally means "many
valued"—it is able to form cations of different charges.
On left, glass vial containing chromium (II) chloride, a grey-green powder
and, on right, glass vial containing chromium (III) chloride, a bright
purple powder.
Chromium commonly forms compounds as \text{Cr}^{2+}Cr2+start text, C, r, end text, start superscript, 2,
plus, end superscript and \text{Cr}^{3+}Cr3+start text, C, r, end text, start superscript, 3, plus, end superscript.
Chromium (II) chloride, on the left, is a grey-green solid with very different properties and reactivity
compared to chromium (III) chloride, the bright purple solid on the right. Thus, it is important to specify
which one you are referring to! Image credit: Maria Sanford
For metals that are polyvalent, we need to specify the magnitude of the
charge on the ion. For instance, we have to call \text{Fe}^{2+}Fe2+start
text, F, e, end text, start superscript, 2, plus, end superscript "iron two-
plus" or "iron two" because simply referring to it as "iron ion" will not
give enough information to specify the type of cation. Most of the
transition metals—those metals in the center d-block of the periodic
table—are polyvalent. Since they can form cations with different charges,
those charges must be specified when naming the ions and when naming
compounds containing those ions.

In ionic compounds, the magnitude of the charge for a transition metal

cation is usually included using Roman numerals in parentheses after the
name of the metal, such as for chromium (II) chloride which
contains \text{Cr}^{2+}Cr2+start text, C, r, end text, start superscript, 2,
plus, end superscript (see picture on the right). Naming ionic compounds
containing transition metal cations will be discussed in more detail in a
separate section below.

Naming monatomic anions

Most often, when we name monatomic anions, we add the suffix -ide to
the end of the element's name. Because we can predict the charge on
simple cations and anions based on an element's group number, it is not
necessary to specify the magnitude of the charge on an anion most of the
time. The following table shows how the suffix applies to naming anions
of various elements:
Element \rightarrow→right
name arrow Ion name Ion formula

\text{H}^-
H−start text, H,
end text, start
superscript,
minus, end
Hydrogen Hydride superscript

\text{Cl}^-
Cl−start text, C, l,
end text, start
superscript,
minus, end
Chlorine Chloride superscript

\text{Br}^-
Br−start text, B, r,
end text, start
superscript,
minus, end
Bromine Bromide superscript

\text{I}^-I−start
text, I, end text,
start superscript,
minus, end
Iodine Iodide superscript
 Element \rightarrow→right
name arrow Ion name Ion formula

\text{O}^{2-
}O2−start text, O,
end text, start
superscript, 2,
minus, end
Oxygen Oxide superscript

\text{S}^{2-
}S2−start text, S,
end text, start
superscript, 2,
minus, end
Sulfur Sulfide superscript

\text{N}^{3-
}N3−start text, N,
end text, start
superscript, 3,
minus, end
Nitrogen Nitride superscript

\text{P}^{3-
}P3−start text, P,
end text, start
Phosphorus Phosphide
superscript, 3,
 Element \rightarrow→right
name arrow Ion name Ion formula

minus, end
superscript

\text{C}^{4-
}C4−start text, C,
end text, start
superscript, 4,
minus, end
Carbon Carbide superscript

Formulas and naming of basic ionic

compounds
Now that we've seen the naming conventions for cations and anions, we
can discuss how they apply to naming simple ionic compounds made up
of monatomic ions. The following guidelines can be used for naming
ionic compounds:

 Always name the cation before the anion; in the chemical formula, the
cation will always appear first as well.
 When naming the cation within an ionic compound, we don't include the
word ion or the charge unless it is a polyvalent cation. That means we
only have to name the element that the ion came from (see Example
2 below).
 Any ionic compound will have a net charge of zero. Another way of
saying this is that cations and anions must always combine in such a way
so that their charges cancel.
 The number of cations and anions in the formula should be written as
the lowest possible integer value. For example, the formula for sodium
chloride is \text{NaCl}NaClstart text, N, a, C, l, end text, not \text{Na}_2
\text{Cl}_2Na2Cl2start text, N, a, end text, start subscript, 2, end subscript,
start text, C, l, end text, start subscript, 2, end subscript or some other
multiple of \text{NaCl}NaClstart text, N, a, C, l, end text, even though the
charges would still add up to zero.
Let's look at a few more examples.

Example 1: Finding the chemical formula

from the name
What is the chemical formula of potassium chloride?

Remember that potassium is a group 1 element that forms a 1+ ion.

Chloride, by definition, is an anion that has formed from an atom of
chlorine. Since chlorine is in group 17, it will form a 1- anion. Because
their charges are equal and opposite, there will be one \text{ K}^+ K+start
text, space, K, end text, start superscript, plus, end superscript ion for
every one \text{ Cl}^- Cl−start text, space, C, l, end text, start superscript,
minus, end superscript anion, and the chemical formula will
be \text{KCl}KClstart text, K, C, l, end text. Remember that subscripts are
not used when there is only one atom/ion of a particular type.
 Example 2: Finding the name from the
chemical formula
What is the name of the ionic compound \text{Mg}_3\text{P}_2Mg3P2
start text, M, g, end text, start subscript, 3, end subscript, start text,
P, end text, start subscript, 2, end subscript?
Magnesium, \text{Mg}Mgstart text, M, g, end text, is a group 2 element
that will form 2+ cations. Because it usually forms cations of only one
type, we don't need to specify its charge. We can simply refer to the
cation in the ionic compound as magnesium. Phosphorus, \text{P}Pstart
text, P, end text, is a group 15 element and therefore forms 3- anions.
Because it is an anion, we add the suffix -ide to its name to get phosphide
as the name of the ion. Therefore, the name for the compound
is magnesium phosphide.

Try it: Names and formulas of ionic

compounds
Problem 1

What is the chemical formula for calcium bromide?

Choose 1 answer:

Choose 1 answer:


(Choice A)

\text{Ca}_2\text{Br}Ca2Brstart text, C, a, end text, start subscript, 2, end

subscript, start text, B, r, end text

 (Choice B)

\text{BrCa}BrCastart text, B, r, C, a, end text


(Choice C)

\text{CaBr}_2CaBr2start text, C, a, B, r, end text, start subscript, 2, end

subscript

(Choice D)

\text{CaBr}_3CaBr3start text, C, a, B, r, end text, start subscript, 3, end

subscript
Check

[Hint 1]

\text{Ca}^{2+}start text, C, a, end text, start superscript, 2, plus, end

superscript\text{Br}^-start text, B, r, end text, start superscript, minus,
end superscript
[Hint 2]

\text{Ca}^{2+}start text, C, a, end text, start superscript, 2, plus, end

superscript\text{ Br}^{-}start text, space, B, r, end text, start superscript,
minus, end superscript
1\times(21, times, left parenthesis, 2+)=2plus, right parenthesis, equals,
2+plus

2\times(12, times, left parenthesis, 1-)=2minus, right parenthesis, equals,

2-minus

22+plus22-minus

\text{CaBr}_2start text, C, a, B, r, end text, start subscript, 2, end

subscript
 Problem 2
What is the name of the compound \text{SrF}_2SrF2start text, S, r, F,
end text, start subscript, 2, end subscript?
Choose 1 answer:

Choose 1 answer:


(Choice A)

fluoride strontium

(Choice B)

strontium fluoride

(Choice C)

strontium fluorine

(Choice D)

sulfur fluorine
Check

[Hint 1]

\text{F}start text, F, end text\text{F}start text, F, end text\text F^-start text,

F, end text, start superscript, minus, end superscript
[Hint 2]

\text{Sr}start text, S, r, end text\text{Sr}^{2+}start text, S, r, end text, start

superscript, 2, plus, end superscript
[Hint 3]

Problem 3
 What are the constituent ions present in the
compound \text{Al}_2\text{S}_3Al2S3start text, A, l, end text, start
subscript, 2, end subscript, start text, S, end text, start subscript, 3,
end subscript?
Choose 1 answer:

Choose 1 answer:


(Choice A)

1\text{ Al}_2^{6+}1 Al26+1, start text, space, A, l, end text, start subscript,
2, end subscript, start superscript, 6, plus, end superscript ion and 1\text{
S}_3^{6-}1 S36−1, start text, space, S, end text, start subscript, 3, end
subscript, start superscript, 6, minus, end superscript ion

(Choice B)

2\text{ Al}^{3-}2 Al3−2, start text, space, A, l, end text, start superscript,
3, minus, end superscript ions and 3\text{ S}^{2+}3 S2+3, start text,
space, S, end text, start superscript, 2, plus, end superscript ions

(Choice C)

2\text{ Al}^{3+}2 Al3+2, start text, space, A, l, end text, start superscript,
3, plus, end superscript ions and 3\text{ S}^{2-}3 S2−3, start text, space, S,
end text, start superscript, 2, minus, end superscript ions

(Choice D)

1\text{ Al}^{3+}1 Al3+1, start text, space, A, l, end text, start superscript,
3, plus, end superscript ion and 1\text{ S}^{2-}1 S2−1, start text, space, S,
end text, start superscript, 2, minus, end superscript ion
Check
[Hint 1]

[Hint 2]

\text{Al}^{3+}start text, A, l, end text, start superscript, 3, plus, end

superscript\text{S}^{2-}start text, S, end text, start superscript, 2, minus,
end superscript\text{Al}_2\text{S}_3start text, A, l, end text, start
subscript, 2, end subscript, start text, S, end text, start subscript, 3, end
subscript\text{Al}^{3+}start text, A, l, end text, start superscript, 3, plus,
end superscript\text{S}^{2-}start text, S, end text, start superscript, 2,
minus, end superscript
\text{Al}^{3+}start text, A, l, end text, start superscript, 3, plus, end
superscript\text{S}^{2-}start text, S, end text, start superscript, 2,
minus, end superscript

Naming ionic compounds with polyvalent

cations
Recall from our earlier discussion that if an element can form more than
one type of cation, we have to specify the charge on that cation. The
magnitude of the charge for a transition metal cation is usually indicated
using Roman numerals in parentheses after the name of the metal—this
is also called the systematic name of the ion. The following table lists
some of the most common ions for polyvalent metals. The systematic
name is included for all ions. For some ions, the common or trivial name
is also given. The common or trivial names are somewhat old fashioned
nowadays, but they're still used in some places, so they're helpful to
know. Notice that the ions of lesser charge take the suffix -ous in the
common name; ions of higher charge take the -ic suffix. For example,
ferrous chloride (\text{FeCl}_2FeCl2start text, F, e, C, l, end text, start
subscript, 2, end subscript) is the name of \text{Fe}^{2+}Fe2+start text, F,
e, end text, start superscript, 2, plus, end superscript, while
ferric chloride (\text{FeCl}_3FeCl3start text, F, e, C, l, end text, start
subscript, 3, end subscript) is understood to
contain \text{Fe}^{3+}Fe3+start text, F, e, end text, start superscript, 3,
plus, end superscript.

Common
Systematic (trivial)
Element Common ions formed name name

\text{Cr}^{2+}Cr2+start
text, C, r, end text, start
superscript, 2, plus, end chromium
Chromium superscript (II) chromous

\text{Cr}^{3+}Cr3+start
text, C, r, end text, start
superscript, 3, plus, end chromium
superscript (III) chromic

\text{Co}^{2+}Co2+start
text, C, o, end text, start
superscript, 2, plus, end
Cobalt superscript cobalt (II)

\text{Co}^{3+}Co3+start
cobalt (III)
text, C, o, end text, start
 Common
Systematic (trivial)
Element Common ions formed name name

superscript, 3, plus, end

superscript

\text{Cu}^{+}Cu+start text,
C, u, end text, start
superscript, plus, end
Copper superscript copper (I) cuprous

\text{Cu}^{2+}Cu2+start
text, C, u, end text, start
superscript, 2, plus, end
superscript copper (II) cupric

\text{Fe}^{2+}Fe2+start
text, F, e, end text, start
superscript, 2, plus, end
Iron superscript iron (II) ferrous

\text{Fe}^{3+}Fe3+start
text, F, e, end text, start
superscript, 3, plus, end
superscript iron (III) ferric

\text{Pb}^{2+}Pb2+start
Lead lead (II)
text, P, b, end text, start
 Common
Systematic (trivial)
Element Common ions formed name name

superscript, 2, plus, end

superscript

\text{Pb}^{4+}Pb4+start
text, P, b, end text, start
superscript, 4, plus, end
superscript lead (IV)

\text{Sn}^{2+}Sn2+start
text, S, n, end text, start
superscript, 2, plus, end
Tin superscript tin (II) stannous

\text{Sn}^{4+}Sn4+start
text, S, n, end text, start
superscript, 4, plus, end
superscript tin (IV) stannic

Using this table as a reference, let's look at how to name ionic

compounds containing polyvalent metals.

Example 3: Naming compounds containing

polyvalent cations
What is the name of the compound \text{PbCl}_4PbCl4start text, P, b,
C, l, end text, start subscript, 4, end subscript?

When naming ionic compounds that contain transition metals, we first

need to determine the charge on the transition metal cation. We can
deduce this charge by first calculating the charge contributed by the
anion, whose charge we already know for sure.
We recognize that \text{Cl}Clstart text, C, l, end text is a group 17 halogen,
so it forms the chloride anion \text{Cl}^-Cl−start text, C, l, end text, start
superscript, minus, end superscript. We can see from the chemical
formula \text{PbCl}_4PbCl4start text, P, b, C, l, end text, start subscript, 4,
end subscript that there are four chloride ions in the compound. The
total negative charge contributed by the four chloride ions is calculated
below:
\text{Total charge from
anions}=4\times(1Total charge from anions=4×(1start text, T, o, t, a, l, space,
c, h, a, r, g, e, space, f, r, o, m, space, a, n, i, o, n, s, end text, equals, 4, times,
left parenthesis, 1-−minus)=4)=4right parenthesis, equals, 4-−minus

In order for the compound to be electrically neutral, the lead cation must
be \text{Pb}^{4+}Pb4+start text, P, b, end text, start superscript, 4, plus,
end superscript. This is because the 4+ charge on this ion will exactly
cancel the net 4- charge contributed by the four chloride ions.
Therefore, the name of \text{PbCl}_4PbCl4start text, P, b, C, l, end text,
start subscript, 4, end subscript is lead (IV) chloride.

Try it: Ionic compounds containing

polyvalent cations
 What is the name of the compound \text{Co}_2\text{S}_3Co2S3start
text, C, o, end text, start subscript, 2, end subscript, start text, S, end
text, start subscript, 3, end subscript?
Choose 1 answer:

Choose 1 answer:


(Choice A)

cobalt sulfide

(Choice B)

cobalt (II) sulfide


(Choice C)

cobalt (III) sulfuride


(Choice D)

cobalt (III) sulfide

[Hint 1]

\text Sstart text, S, end text\text{S}start text, S, end text

[Hint 2]

\text{S}^{2-}start text, S, end text, start superscript, 2, minus, end

superscript
3\times (23, times, left parenthesis, 2-minus)=6right parenthesis, equals,
6-minus

\text{Co}start text, C, o, end text\text{Co}^{3+}start text, C, o, end text,

start superscript, 3, plus, end superscript
 2\times (32, times, left parenthesis, 3+)=6plus, right parenthesis, equals,
6+plus
Check

Conclusion
Cations are positively charged ions formed when neutral atoms lose
electrons; anions are negatively charged ions formed when neutral
atoms gain electrons. It is possible to predict the charges of common
monatomic ions by looking at the group numbers on the periodic table.
However, many of the transition metals are polyvalent, which means
they can form cations of multiple charges. When naming these cations or
compounds containing these cations, it is necessary to specify their
charge.

Cations and anions combine to form ionic compounds. Ionic compounds

are named with the cation first and the anion last. The same convention
is used when writing their chemical formulas. Ionic compounds must be
electrically neutral. Therefore, the cations and anions must combine in
such a way that the net charge contributed by the total number of cations
exactly cancels the net charge contributed by the total number of anions.
[Attributions and references]

1.
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