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Ch.6 Ionic and Molecular Compounds
Timberlake - Chemistry: An Introduction to General, Organic, and Biological Chemistry 13th Edition
Timberlake13th EditionChemistry: An Introduction to General, Organic, and Biological ChemistryISBN: 9780134421353Not the one you use?Change textbook
Chapter 6, Problem 37c

Name the following polyatomic ions:
c. HSO3-

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1
Identify the base polyatomic ion: The given ion is HSO₃⁻. The base polyatomic ion here is SO₃²⁻, which is called sulfite.
Recognize the addition of hydrogen: The presence of 'H' in HSO₃⁻ indicates that a hydrogen ion (H⁺) has been added to the sulfite ion (SO₃²⁻).
Adjust the charge: Adding H⁺ to SO₃²⁻ reduces the overall charge by 1, resulting in HSO₃⁻.
Name the ion: When a hydrogen ion is added to a polyatomic ion, the name typically includes 'hydrogen' as a prefix. Therefore, HSO₃⁻ is named hydrogen sulfite.
Confirm the name: Double-check the name to ensure it follows the IUPAC naming conventions for polyatomic ions. The correct name is hydrogen sulfite.

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Polyatomic Ions

Polyatomic ions are ions that consist of two or more atoms bonded together, which carry a net charge. They can be positively charged (cations) or negatively charged (anions). Understanding polyatomic ions is essential for naming and writing chemical formulas, as they often appear in various compounds.
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Nomenclature of Ions

Nomenclature refers to the system of naming chemical compounds and ions. For polyatomic ions, specific naming conventions are used based on the composition and charge of the ion. For example, the suffixes '-ate' and '-ite' indicate different oxidation states of the same element within the ion, which is crucial for accurate identification.
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HSO₃⁻ Ion

The HSO₃⁻ ion, known as the bisulfite ion, is a polyatomic ion derived from sulfurous acid (H₂SO₃). It contains one sulfur atom, three oxygen atoms, and one hydrogen atom, resulting in a negative charge. Recognizing its structure and charge is important for understanding its role in chemical reactions and its relationship to other sulfur-containing ions.
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