So I'm having a test on formula writing tomorrow, and I need to memorize a bunch of polyatomic ion charges. However, I recall my teacher saying that there is a somewhat easier way to go about doin this. Like depending on what the polyatomic ion ends in (like ite, ate etc) you can determine the charge more easily.
If somebody knows what I'm talking about, and could expand on it I would really appreciate it, and I will give 10pts to the best answer.
2007-11-19 12:33:29 · 3 answers · asked by Person X 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Chemistry
First, I'm afraid there's no help for it: You will have to memorize them.
In any series, -ate has more oxygen atoms than -ite. Also, the oxidation number of the central atom is greater in -ate than in -ite.
SO4= is sulfate; SO3= is sulfite. The oxidation numbers of S are +6 in the first and +4 in the second.
ClO- is hypochlorite, ClO2- is chlorite, ClO3- is chlorate, and ClO4- is perchlorate.
2007-11-19 12:52:01 · answer #1 · answered by steve_geo1 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
lol i had the same prob.....cept i failed the test around 6 times in a row..
ok anyways
when its nitrogen...and i think Chloride...the ion's charge is -1....and if it has 2 Oxygens at the end, its "ite", and 3 oxygen is "ate"....and if its sulfur...it was -2 charrge, and if it has 3 Oxygens, its "ite" and 4 oxygens is "ate"
basically you just add 1 more Oxygen if its a -2 charge and keep the ending...
DOESNT WORK FOR SILICATE AND THIOSULFATE...weird...
2007-11-19 20:43:38 · answer #2 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
As for the ite and ate discussion, "ite" is the lower, and "ate" is the larger. Sodium sulfite is NaSO3 and Sodium sulfate is Na2SO4. Also note that sulfurOUS acid is HSO3, and sulfurIC acid is H2SO4
2007-11-19 20:50:37 · answer #3 · answered by Top Gun 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋