How are polyatomic ions named?

2 Answers
anor277
Aug 4, 2018

Well, usually the characterizing names must simply be learned by usage...

Explanation:

And thus...

#NO_3^(-)-="nitrate"#

#NO_2^(-)-="nitrite"#

#SO_4^(2-)-="sulfate"#

#HSO_4^(-)-="bisulfate"#

#SO_3^(2-)-="sulfite"#

#ClO_4^(-)-="perchlorate, Cl(+VII)"#

#ClO_3^(-)-="chlorate, Cl(+V)"#

#ClO_2^(-)-="chlorite, , Cl(+III)"#

#ClO^(-)-="hypochlorite, , Cl(+I)"#

#HPO_4^(2-)-="biphosphate"#

#NO_3^(-)-="nitrate"#

#MnO_4^(-)-="permanganate"#...

Clearly, this is a selection....the ions that have the central atom in its maximum oxidation state, i.e. #SO_4^(2-)#, #HPO_4^(2-)#, get an #"ate"# ending...#"ite"# endings refer to a LOWER oxidation state, cf. #SO_3^(2-)#, #"sulfite"#...

David Drayer
Aug 4, 2018

The endings indicate the degree of oxidation states of the polyatomic ions

Explanation:

ate indicates that the ion is oxidized to the normal oxidation state.

nitrate = # NO_3^-1# the normal oxidation state for Nitrogen is +5
sulfate =#SO_4^-2# the normal oxidation state for sulfate is +6
Chlorate=#ClO_3^-1# the normal oxidation state for Cl is +5

ite indicates that the ion is oxidized at less than the normal oxidation state.

nitrite = #NO_2^-1# the oxidation state is + 3 < +5
Sulfite=#SO_3^-2# the oxidation state is + 4 < + 6
Chlorite=#ClO_2^-1# the oxidation state is +3 < + 5

Hyper ate means the oxidation state is more than normal

Hyper Chlorate = #ClO_4^-1# the oxidation is + 7 > +5

Hypo its means the oxidation state is less than normal

HypoChlorite = #ClO^-1# the oxidation is + 1 < + 3

Pay attention to the endings of the polyatomic ions. The prefixes and suffixes gives clues of how the polyatomic ions are named.

Related questions
Impact of this question
1306 views around the world
You can reuse this answer
Creative Commons License