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Cations

1+ 2+ 3+
H+ Hydrogen Mg2+ Magnesium Al3+ Aluminium
Li+ Lithium Ca2+ Calcium Fe3+ Iron(III)
Na+ Sodium Ba2+ Barium Cr3+ Chromium(III)
K+ Potassium Sr2+ Strontium
Rb+ Rubidium Zn2+ Zinc
Cs+ Cesium Cd2+ Cadmium
NH4+ Ammonium Cu2+ Copper(II)
Ag+ Silver Fe2+ Iron(II)
Cu+ Copper(I) Pb2+ Lead(II)
Co2+ Cobalt(II)
Mn2+ Manganese(II)
Sn2+ Tin(II)

Anions

1- 2- 3-
F- Fluoride O2- Oxide N3- Nitride
Cl- Chloride S2- Sulphide PO4 3- Phosphate
Br- Bromide CO32- Carbonate
I- Iodide SO42- Sulphate
OH- Hydroxide SO32- Sulphite
ClO3- Chlorate CrO42- Chromate
NO3- Nitrate Cr2O72- Dichromate
NO2- Nitrite HPO42- Hydrogen Phosphate
CN- Cyanide O22- Peroxide
H2PO4- Di-Hydrogen Phosphate
HCO3- Bicarbonate
HSO4- Bisulphate
SCN- Thiocyanate
MnO4- Permanganate
H- Hydride

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.

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