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Polyatomic Ions definitions

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  • Polyatomic Ion
    A group of covalently bonded atoms from different elements carrying an overall positive or negative charge.
  • Oxyanion
    A negatively charged polyatomic ion containing oxygen, often with a nonmetal as the central atom.
  • Trioxide
    A polyatomic ion structure containing three oxygen atoms, typically ending with the suffix 'ate.'
  • Tetraoxide
    A polyatomic ion structure containing four oxygen atoms, commonly found in ions like sulfate and phosphate.
  • Halogen Oxyanion
    A polyatomic ion with a halogen and oxygen, always carrying a -1 charge and named using prefixes and suffixes.
  • Charge Pattern
    A trend in the periodic table that helps predict the charges of trioxides and tetraoxides based on group number.
  • Suffix
    The ending part of a polyatomic ion's name, such as 'ate' or 'ite,' indicating the number of oxygens present.
  • Prefix
    The beginning part of a polyatomic ion's name, like 'per-' or 'hypo-,' used to indicate the number of oxygens.
  • Ammonium
    The only major positively charged polyatomic ion, composed of nitrogen and hydrogen, with a +1 charge.
  • Mercury(I)
    A positively charged polyatomic ion formed by two mercury atoms, each with a +1 charge, totaling +2.
  • Permanganate
    A tetraoxide polyatomic ion with manganese and four oxygens, carrying a -1 charge, not fitting standard patterns.
  • Chromate
    A tetraoxide polyatomic ion with chromium and four oxygens, carrying a -2 charge, requiring memorization.
  • Oxalate
    A tetraoxide polyatomic ion with two carbons and four oxygens, carrying a -2 charge, not following naming trends.
  • Cyanide
    A polyatomic ion with carbon and nitrogen, carrying a -1 charge, lacking oxygen in its structure.
  • Acetate
    A polyatomic ion with two carbons, three hydrogens, and two oxygens, commonly written as C2H3O2-.