5.

Polyatomic Compounds

Polyatomic compounds are pure substance that involve

combinations of polyatomic ions with metals, hydrogen,
and other polyatomic ions.

metal + poly.ion =
hydrogen + poly.ion = poly.cmpd
poly.ion + poly.ion =

Polyatomic ions are groups of atoms that tend to stay

together and carry an overall charge.

When a polyatomic compound is mixed with water the

metal separates from the polyatomic ion.

Writing Formulas for Polyatomic Compounds

(Use handout: Common Polyatomic Ions and Compounds)

• Write the symbols

• Find the ionic charges
• Crisscross the charges (no need for the subscript 1)
• Reduce to lowest terms ***caution***

Examples:

Sodium sulfate Lead (IV) carbonate

Na+1(SO4)-2 Pb+4(CO3)-2

Na2(SO4) Pb2(CO3)4
Pb(CO3)2 (reduced)
 5.9

Writing Names for Polyatomic Compounds

• Name of metal / polyatomic ion / hydrogen

• Name of polyatomic ion

Typically, it is the positively cation followed by the

negatively charged polyatomic anion.

Oxyacids

Oxyacids are compounds formed when hydrogen combines

whith polyatomic ions that contain oxygen.

Examples:

Nitric acid HNO3

Nitrous acid HNO2
Chloric acid HClO3
Carbonic acid H2CO3
Sulfuric acid H2SO4
Sulfurous acid H2SO3
Phosphoric acid H3PO4
 5.9
COMMON IONS
Symbols and Charges for Monoatomic Ions Fixed Charge
Symbol Name Symbol Name
H+ hydrogen ion H- hydride
Li+ lithium ion F- fluoride
Na+ sodium ion Cl- chloride
K+ potassium ion Br- bromide
Rb+ rubidium ion I- iodide
Cs+ cesium ion
Ag+ silver ion O2- oxide
Be2+ beryllium ion S2- sulfide
Mg2+ magnesium ion Se2- selenide
Ca2+ calcium ion Te2- telluride
Sr2+ strontium ion
Ba2+ barium ion N3- nitride
Ra2+ radium ion P3- phosphide
Zn2+ zinc ion As3- arsenide
Al3+ aluminum ion

Symbols and Charges for Monoatomic Ions (Variable Charge)

Systematic name Common Systematic name
Common
Symbol (Stock system) name Symbol (Stock system) name
Cu+ copper(I) cuprous Hg22+ mercury(I)
mercurous
Cu2+ copper(II) cupric Hg2+ mercury(II) mercuric
Fe2+ iron(II) ferrous Pb2+ lead(II) plumbous
Fe3+ iron(III) ferric Pb4+ lead(IV) plumbic
Sn2+ tin(II) stannous Co2+ cobalt(II) cobaltous
Sn4+ tin(IV) stannic Co3+ cobalt(III) cobaltic
Cr2+ chromium(II) chromous Au+ gold(I) aurous
Cr3+ chromium(III) chromic Au3+ gold(III) auric
Mn2+ manganese(II) manganous
Mn3+ manganese(III) manganic

Symbols and Charges for Polyatomic Ions

Formula Name Formula Name
NO3- nitrate ClO4- perchlorate
NO2- nitrite ClO3- chlorate
CrO42- chromate ClO2- chlorite
Cr2O72- dichromate ClO- hypochlorite
CN- cyanide IO4- periodate
MnO4- permanganate IO3- iodate
OH- hydroxide IO- hypoiodite
O22- peroxide BrO3- bromate
NH2- amide BrO- hypobromite
CO32- carbonate HCO3- hydrogen carbonate (bicarbonate)
SO42- sulfate HSO4- hydrogen sulfate (bisulfate)
SO32- sulfite HSO3- hydrogen sulfite (bisulfite)
C2O42- oxalate HC2O4- hydrogen oxalate (binoxalate)
PO43- phosphate HPO42- hydrogen phosphate
PO33- phosphite H2PO4- dihydrogen phosphate
S2O32- thiosulfate HS- hydrogen sulfide
AsO43- arsenate BO33- borate
SeO42- selenate B4O72- tetraborate
SiO32- silicate SiF62- hexafluorosilicate
C4H4O62- tartrate
C2H3O2- acetate (an alternate way to write acetate is CH3COO-)

There is one positive polyatomic ion. It is NH4+ and is called the ammonium ion.