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Polyatomic Ions quiz

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  • What is a polyatomic ion?
    A polyatomic ion is a tightly bound group of different elements with an overall charge, either positive or negative.
  • What distinguishes polyatomic oxyanions from other polyatomic ions?
    Polyatomic oxyanions are negatively charged ions that contain oxygen and are named based on the number of oxygens present.
  • How many oxygens are in a trioxide polyatomic ion, and what suffix is used in its name?
    Trioxide polyatomic ions have 3 oxygens and their names end with 'ate'.
  • How many oxygens are in a tetraoxide polyatomic ion, and what suffix is used in its name?
    Tetraoxide polyatomic ions have 4 oxygens and their names end with 'ate'.
  • What are the charges for trioxides and tetraoxides based on their position in the periodic table?
    Trioxides typically have charges of -3, -2, or -1, while tetraoxides have charges of -3 or -2.
  • Name the common trioxide polyatomic ions and their formulas.
    Common trioxides are borate (BO3^3-), carbonate (CO3^2-), nitrate (NO3^-), and silicate (SiO3^2-).
  • Name the common tetraoxide polyatomic ions and their formulas.
    Common tetraoxides are phosphate (PO4^3-) and sulfate (SO4^2-).
  • What happens to the name and charge of a polyatomic ion when the number of oxygens is decreased by one?
    The ending changes from 'ate' to 'ite', but the charge remains the same.
  • What is the formula and charge for sulfite, and how is it related to sulfate?
    Sulfite is SO3^2-, formed by removing one oxygen from sulfate (SO4^2-) while keeping the charge unchanged.
  • What is the common charge for halogen oxyanions (oxyhalogens), and how are their names determined?
    Halogen oxyanions all have a -1 charge, and their names use prefixes and suffixes based on the number of oxygens.
  • What prefix and suffix are used for a halogen oxyanion with four oxygens?
    The prefix 'per-' and the suffix '-ate' are used, as in 'perbromate' for BrO4^-.
  • What are the only major positively charged polyatomic ions, and their formulas?
    The only major positively charged polyatomic ions are ammonium (NH4^+) and mercury(I) (Hg2^2+).
  • Name three polyatomic ions that do not fit predictable patterns and must be memorized.
    Permanganate (MnO4^-), chromate (CrO4^2-), and oxalate (C2O4^2-) must be memorized.
  • List three additional polyatomic ions and their formulas.
    Cyanide (CN^-), hydroxide (OH^-), and acetate (C2H3O2^- or CH3COO^-).
  • How does the formula for cyanate differ from cyanide?
    Cyanate is OCN^- (contains oxygen), while cyanide is CN^- (does not contain oxygen).