Subject: SNC2DE Unit: 3.0: Chemistry Lesson: 3.

07
Topics: Materials: Nelson: Science 10
Polyatomic Ions Handouts
Homework: Take up homework
A) Intro:
• We’ve looked at ionic binary compounds but there are other types of ionic compounds involving polyatomic ions
(poly = many). We’ll look into those today☺

B) Polyatomic Ions:
• Sometimes called radicals, polyatomic ions are a group of elements bonded together in such a way that they still carry an
ionic charge (unlike a compound which is neutral).
• These packages of elements are very stable and tend to remain together, even through dissolving.
• Most are negatively charged (but the ammonium ions NH4+1 are positive).
• Most include the suffix ate (again there are exceptions like hydroxide)
• Common Polyatomic Ions and Their Charges (see handout for more)
Polyatomic Ion Ion Formula • The naming of the polyatomic ions is very important as we shall see
Bicarbonate* HCO3−1 later for variants on these ions.
• When forming polyatomic compounds, the rules from binary
Carbonate CO3−2 compounds are generally followed. Where we had metal then non-
metal we now have positive ion followed by negative ion. Again
Chlorate ClO3−1 usually, the polyatomic ion is the latter.
Hydroxide OH −1 • The cross over rule is used as before

Nitrate NO3−1
Phosphate PO4−3
Sulphate SO4−2
* note Hydrogen Carbonate is another common name for bicarbonate see below

• Cross Over Method: Positive ion on the left, negative on the right, put the charge above each element, criss-cross the
values (do not write a one!), reduce if necessary. Remember the polyatomic ion is all one unit! Use brackets to help
keep separate. Consider sodium sulphate and ammonium phosphate:
−1 +1 −3
Na +1 SO4 NH 4 PO4

Na1 (SO4 )1  NaSO4 (NH 4 )3 (PO4 )  (NH 4 )3 PO4

o The “zero sum rule” requires that the net charge must be zero after combining the elements still applies.
o The use of brackets around the polyatomic ion helps keep it identified, but can be dropped when only one
exists
• Counting of Atoms: Care must be given when counting the number of atoms. Consider ammonium phosphate again.
It contains 3 ammonium ions and one phosphate ion but in terms of atoms:

(NH 4 )3 PO4  (3N ) + (12H ) + (1P ) + (4O )

Next page please

Notes:
Homework: C05, Polyatomic Ions handout
• Other Naming Considerations:
o Varying Oxygen Atoms in Polyatomic Ion:
▪ Polyatomic ions containing oxygen, such as sulphate, can actually exist in a number of states, each with a
different number of oxygen atoms present. To distinguish them we use a combination of suffixes and or
prefixes. Consider chlorate below:
-2 oxygen atoms -1 oxygen atom Normal Polyatomic Ion +1 oxygen atom
ClO − ClO2− ClO3− ClO4−
Hypochlorite Chlorite Chlorate Perchlorate
-1 Charge -1 Charge -1 Charge -1 Charge
▪ Note that the charge on the polyatomic ion doesn’t change
o Adding Hydrogen to the Polyatomic Ion:
▪ The addition of a hydrogen to a polyatomic ion has the effect of increasing the charge on the ion by +1
H + + CO32− → HCO3−
▪ The ion is still charged (just differently now from its normal state)
▪ In naming we can either:
• Use hydrogen in the name: Hydrogen Carbonate
• Use the prefix bi: Bicarbonate*
• * The prefix bi (2) refers to the fact that it takes twice as many moles of bicarbonate to neutralize
an acid compared to the number of moles for normal carbonate
• IUPAC discourages the use of “bi” in favour of hydrogen --- (as above) since it is more
correct. Consider biphosphate since the term doesn’t distinguish between the several forms of
hydrogen phosphate where:
o HPO42− hydrogen phosphate
o H 2 PO4− dihydrogen phosphate
o H 3 PO4 - trihydrogen phosphate
• Note the use of the prefix di and tri relates to naming of organic compounds which we will cover
later.
 Table of Polyatomic Ions*
Ion Formula Ion Formula Ion Formula
C 2 H 3O2− or OCN − or
Acetate −
Cyanate Peroxide O22−
CH 3OO −
NCO
Aluminate 𝐴𝑙𝑂21− Cyanide CN − Superoxide O2−
Amide NH 2− Disulfide S 22− Phosphate PO43−
Ammonium NH 4+ Ferrate FeO42− Plumbate PbO32−
Antimonate SbO43− Fluorate FO3− Stannate SnO32−
Arsenate AsO43− Hydronium H 3O + Sulfate SO42 −
Bromate BrO3− Hydroxide OH −
2− −
Tartrate (CH (OH )COO )22−
Carbide C 2 Iodate IO 3

Tellurate
2− 2−
- TeO42 −
Carbonate CO Manganate MnO Metatellurate
TeO66 −
3 4
-
Orthotellurate
Chlorate ClO3− Nitrate NO3−
Chromate CrO42− Ozonide O3− Thiosulfate S 2O32 −
* These ions may be further altered by using:
• A varying amount of oxygen (as applicable) and the suffix/prefixes as noted. Eg

-2 oxygen atoms -1 oxygen atom Normal Polyatomic Ion +1 oxygen atom

− − −
ClO ClO 2 ClO 3 ClO4−
Hypochlorite Chlorite Chlorate Perchlorate
-1 Charge -1 Charge -1 Charge -1 Charge
• Or by adding hydrogren (dihydrogren or trihydrogen) noting that the charge of the ion will
change by +1 with the addition of each hydrogen atom. Alternatively you can add a hydrogen
and use the prefix bi to indicate such.
• The use of bicarbonate for example is synonymous with hydrogen carbonate, although IUPAC
promotes the use of the hydrogen carbonate naming method to avoid confusion.
• The sentence below can be used to remember some of the polyatomic ions
Nick the Camel ate a Clam Supper in Pheonix

Nick - N with 3 consonants and 1 vowel therefore NO3-1

Camel - C with 3 consonants and 2 vowels, therefore CO3-2
Clam - Cl with 3 consonants and 1 vowel, therefore ClO3-1
Supper - S with 4 consonants and 2 vowels, therefore SO4-2
Pheonix - P with 4 consonants and 3 vowels, therefore PO4-3