Complete the following table of some common polyatomic ions

Last updated: 5/13/2023

Complete the following table of some common polyatomic ions using the Formulas and Charges handout Ion Formula NHA CN HCO3 SO Ion Name Acetate Carbonate Ion Formula PO OH I HSO4 Ion Name Monohydrogen phosphate Nitrate Chlorate Polyatomic ions themselves are covalently bonded however when joined with another charged species the interaction is ionic Note that ammonium NH4 is a polyatomic cation and all others in the table are anions NH4 takes the place of metals in ionic compounds For instance ammonium chloride is NH4Cl and ammonium sulfate is NH4 2SO4 These are ionic compounds even though neither contains a metal Notice the parentheses around NH4 in ammonium sulfate The parentheses must be placed around polyatomic ions to indicate that the subscript pertains to the entire polyatomic unit That is there are two NHA polyatomic