- #1
Tclack
- 37
- 0
Does there exist a fool-proof way of doing it?
I've scoured the forums, and I've already found this question, but the answers are not satisfying.
Here for example is exactly my question:
https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=525291&highlight=polyatomic+ions
I've already memorized a bunch of -ate's (nick the camel... and I've made my own to cover more)
HERE'S WHAT I ORIGINALLY THOUGHT:
My assumption is that you look at each atom's ion state and add them up. This works for some, but not others. Nitrate for example (NO3-).
A Nitrogen ion is -3 (or +5)
And each Oxygen is -2 (or +6)
So I can see +5 and -6 makes: -1, Which works out!
It doesn't work for Nitrite however (NO2-)
+5 plus -4 leaves a +1
So, Why is what I originally thought wrong?
and how does one determine the charges of polyatomic ions? (specifically oxyanions... for now)
I've scoured the forums, and I've already found this question, but the answers are not satisfying.
Here for example is exactly my question:
https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=525291&highlight=polyatomic+ions
I've already memorized a bunch of -ate's (nick the camel... and I've made my own to cover more)
HERE'S WHAT I ORIGINALLY THOUGHT:
My assumption is that you look at each atom's ion state and add them up. This works for some, but not others. Nitrate for example (NO3-).
A Nitrogen ion is -3 (or +5)
And each Oxygen is -2 (or +6)
So I can see +5 and -6 makes: -1, Which works out!
It doesn't work for Nitrite however (NO2-)
+5 plus -4 leaves a +1
So, Why is what I originally thought wrong?
and how does one determine the charges of polyatomic ions? (specifically oxyanions... for now)