How do you name polyatomic ions.?

Answer 1

I got a B in chemistry and I still don't know how. That class is impossible.

Answer 2

hello wikipediahas a thing on that see below



There are two "rules" that can be used for making the learning of polyatomic ions somewhat easier. First, when the prefix bi- is added to a name, a hydrogen is added to the ion's formula and its charge is reduced by 1. This reduction is a consequence of the hydrogen ion carrying a +1 charge. An alternate to the bi- prefix is to use the word hydrogen in its place: the anion derived from H+ + CO32−, HCO3− can be called either bicarbonate or hydrogencarbonate.

The second rule looks at the number of oxygens in an ion. Consider the chlorine oxoanion family:

perchlorate ClO4−
chlorate ClO3−
chlorite ClO2−
hypochlorite ClO−

First, think of the -ate ion as being the "base" name, in which case the addition of a per- prefix adds an oxygen. Changing the -ate suffix to -ite will reduce the oxygens by one, and keeping the suffix -ite and adding the prefix hypo- reduces the number of oxygens by two. In all situations, the charge is not affected.

It is important to note that these rules will not work with all polyatomic ions, but they do work with the most common ones (sulfate, phosphate, nitrate, chlorate).


[edit] List of polyatomic ions
| ferricyanide| hypochlorite

Polyatomic ions
acetate CH3COO− or C2H3O2−
aluminate AlO2−, Al2O42−
amide NH2−
ammonium NH4+
antimonate SbO43−
antimonite SbO33−
arsenate AsO43−
arsenite AsO33−
azide N3−
benzoate C6H5COO−
bicarbonate (hydrogen carbonate) HCO3−
borate BO33−
metaborate BO2−
tetraborate B4O72−
bromate BrO3−
bromite BrO2−
carbide C22−
carbonate CO32−
chlorate ClO3−
chlorite ClO2−
chromate CrO42−
chromite CrO2−
chromyl CrO22+
citrate C6H5O73−
cyanate OCN−
cyanide CN−
dichromate Cr2O72−
dihydrogen arsenate H2AsO4−
dihydrogen phosphate H2PO4−
dihydrogen phosphite H2PO3−
dioxygenyl O2+
disulfide S22−
ferrate FeO42−
Fe(CN)63−
ferrocyanide Fe(CN)64−
formate (formiate) HCO2−
fulminate CNO−
hydrazide N2H3−
hydrogen carbonate (bicarbonate) HCO3−
hydrogen arsenate HAsO42−
hydrogen phosphate HPO42−
hydrogen phosphite HPO32−
hydrogen sulfate HSO4−
hydrogen sulfite HSO3−
hydronium H3O+
hydroxide OH−
hypobromite BrO−
ClO−
hypoiodite IO−
hypophosphite PO23−
hyposulfite SO22−
iodate IO3−
iodite IO2−
isocyanate NCO−
mercury(I) Hg22+
manganate MnO42−
molybdate MoO42−
nitrate NO3−
nitrite NO2−
oxalate (COO)22−
ozonide O3−
perbromate BrO4−
perchlorate ClO4−
periodate IO4−
permanganate MnO4−
peroxide O22−
perrhenate ReO4−
peroxymonosulfate SO52−
peroxydisulfate S2O82−
pertechnetate TcO4−
phosphate PO43−
phosphite PO33−
plumbate PbO32−
plumbite PbO22−
pyridinium C5H5NH+
pyrophosphate P2O74−
quaternary ammonium NR4+
selenate SeO42−
selenite (ion) SeO32−
silicate SixOyn−
disilicate Si2O52−
metasilicate SiO32−
orthosilicate SiO44−
pyrosilicate Si2O76−
stannate SnO32−
stannite SnO22−
sulfate SO42−
sulfite SO32−
sulfonium R3S+
superoxide O2−
tartrate (CH(OH)COO)22−
metatellurate TeO42−
orthotellurate TeO66−
tellurite TeO32−
thiocyanate SCN−
thiosulfate S2O32−
tosylate (toluenesulfonate) CH3C6H4SO3−
triflate (trifluoromethanesulfonate) CF3SO3−
tungstate WO42−
uranyl UO2+
vanadate VO3−
vanadyl VO2+
pervanadyl VO2+

Answer 3

You have to be more specific. Mostly according to the oxidation number of the central atom.

SO3= is sulfite, SO4= is sulfate. Selenium and tellurium similarly.

ClO- is hypochlorite, ClO2- is chlorite, ClO3- is chlorate, ClO4- is perchlorate. Polyatomic ions of bromine and iodine are parallel.

MnO4- is permanganate, MnO4= is manganate.

CrO4= is chromate, Cr2O7= is dichromate.

Answer 4

for those the scientists just decide-- there's no definite way to know the name of a polyatomic ion if you only know the formula. for instance, SCN (minus) is thiocyanate. And they call CH3COO− acetate. I mean, where'd that come from?

Answer 5

You have to memorize them.

One rule is that the ion with more Oxygens ends in -ate and less ends in -ite

as in NO2-/NO3- is Nitrite/Nitrate

Answer 6

If you memorize your ions, it will be easier to name them.