Charges and Ions – Complete Notes with Full List of Ions

Understand the basics of charges, how ions are formed, their types, key differences, and a comprehensive reference table of cations and anions.”

We Will Learn :

What is a Charge?

A charge is a property of particles (like protons, electrons, and ions) that causes them to attract or repel each other.
There are two types of charges:
- Positive charge (+): Due to loss of electrons.
- Negative charge (−): Due to gain of electrons.
Neutral atoms have no charge (equal protons & electrons).

How Charging Happens?

Atoms gain or lose electrons to achieve a stable electronic configuration (usually like noble gases).

Loss of electrons → Positive ion (cation)
Gain of electrons → Negative ion (anion)

Example:

Sodium (Na) → Na⁺ (by losing 1 electron)
Chlorine (Cl) → Cl⁻ (by gaining 1 electron)

Remember :

Electron donating atom is called “Donor” and
Electron accepting atom is called “Acceptor”.

What is an Ion?

An ion is a charged particle formed when an atom or group of atoms gains or loses electrons.
Types of ions:
- Cations (positive ions): Metals usually form cations.
- Anions (negative ions): Non-metals usually form anions.
- Monoatomic ions: Single atom ions (Na⁺, Cl⁻, O²⁻).
- Polyatomic ions: Group of atoms with a charge (SO₄²⁻, NH₄⁺, CO₃²⁻).

Difference Between Charges and Ions

Aspect	Charge	Ion
Definition	Property of matter (positive/negative/zero)	Atom or group of atoms carrying a charge
Types	+ (positive), – (negative), 0 (neutral)	Cations (+), Anions (–), Monoatomic, Polyatomic
Existence	Abstract property (no particle itself)	Real particle (Na⁺, Cl⁻, SO₄²⁻, etc.)
Example	+1, –2	Na⁺, Cl⁻, O²⁻, NH₄⁺, SO₄²⁻

Types of Ions (based on charge & structure)

Cations: Na⁺, Ca²⁺, Al³⁺
Anions: Cl⁻, O²⁻, SO₄²⁻
Monoatomic ions: K⁺, Fe²⁺, Br⁻
Polyatomic ions: NO₃⁻, CO₃²⁻, NH₄⁺

Key Points to Remember

Metals → form cations (+).
Non-metals → form anions (–).
Noble gases → mostly do not form ions (stable).
Transition elements → can have multiple oxidation states (like Fe²⁺, Fe³⁺).
Polyatomic ions → act as a single charged unit in compounds.

Table of ions

List of Elements with Their Ion Charges

S.No	Ion Name	Symbol / Formula
1	Hydrogen	H⁺
2	Helium	He (no ion)
3	Lithium	Li⁺
4	Beryllium	Be²⁺
5	Boron	B³⁻, B³⁺
6	Carbon	C⁴⁺
7	Nitrogen	N³⁻
8	Oxygen	O²⁻
9	Fluorine	F⁻
10	Neon	Ne (no ion)
11	Sodium	Na⁺
12	Magnesium	Mg²⁺
13	Aluminium	Al³⁺
14	Silicon	Si⁴⁺, Si⁴⁻
15	Phosphorus	P⁵⁺, P³⁺, P³⁻
16	Sulphur	S²⁻, S²⁺, S⁴⁺, S⁶⁺
17	Chlorine	Cl⁻
18	Argon	Ar (no ion)
19	Potassium	K⁺
20	Calcium	Ca²⁺
21	Scandium	Sc³⁺
22	Titanium	Ti⁴⁺, Ti³⁺
23	Vanadium	V²⁺, V³⁺, V⁴⁺, V⁵⁺
24	Chromium	Cr²⁺, Cr³⁺, Cr⁶⁺
25	Manganese	Mn²⁺, Mn⁴⁺, Mn⁷⁺
26	Iron	Fe²⁺, Fe³⁺
27	Cobalt	Co²⁺, Co³⁺
28	Nickel	Ni²⁺
29	Copper	Cu⁺, Cu²⁺
30	Zinc	Zn²⁺
31	Gallium	Ga³⁺
32	Germanium	Ge⁴⁻, Ge²⁺, Ge⁴⁺
33	Arsenic	As³⁻, As³⁺, As⁵⁺
34	Selenium	Se²⁻, Se⁴⁺, Se⁶⁺
35	Bromine	Br⁻, Br⁺, Br⁵⁺
36	Krypton	Kr (no ion)
37	Rubidium	Rb⁺
38	Strontium	Sr²⁺
39	Yttrium	Y³⁺
40	Zirconium	Zr⁴⁺
41	Niobium	Nb³⁺, Nb⁵⁺
42	Molybdenum	Mo³⁺, Mo⁶⁺
43	Technetium	Tc⁶⁺
44	Ruthenium	Ru³⁺, Ru⁴⁺, Ru⁸⁺
45	Rhodium	Rh⁴⁺
46	Palladium	Pd²⁺, Pd⁴⁺
47	Silver	Ag⁺
48	Cadmium	Cd²⁺
49	Indium	In³⁺
50	Tin	Sn²⁺, Sn⁴⁺
51	Antimony	Sb³⁻, Sb³⁺, Sb⁵⁺
52	Tellurium	Te²⁻, Te⁴⁺, Te⁶⁺
53	Iodine	I⁻
54	Xenon	Xe (no ion)
55	Cesium	Cs⁺
56	Barium	Ba²⁺
57	Lanthanum	La³⁺
58	Cerium	Ce³⁺, Ce⁴⁺
59	Praseodymium	Pr³⁺
60	Neodymium	Nd³⁺, Nd⁴⁺
61	Promethium	Pm³⁺
62	Samarium	Sm³⁺
63	Europium	Eu³⁺
64	Gadolinium	Gd³⁺
65	Terbium	Tb³⁺, Tb⁴⁺
66	Dysprosium	Dy³⁺
67	Holmium	Ho³⁺
68	Erbium	Er³⁺
69	Thulium	Tm³⁺
70	Ytterbium	Yb³⁺
71	Lutetium	Lu³⁺
72	Hafnium	Hf⁴⁺
73	Tantalum	Ta⁵⁺
74	Tungsten	W⁶⁺
75	Rhenium	Re²⁺, Re⁴⁺, Re⁶⁺, Re⁷⁺
76	Osmium	Os³⁺, Os⁴⁺, Os⁶⁺, Os⁸⁺
77	Iridium	Ir³⁺, Ir⁴⁺, Ir⁶⁺
78	Platinum	Pt²⁺, Pt⁴⁺, Pt⁶⁺
79	Gold	Au⁺, Au²⁺, Au³⁺
80	Mercury	Hg⁺, Hg²⁺
81	Thallium	Tl⁺, Tl³⁺
82	Lead	Pb²⁺, Pb⁴⁺
83	Bismuth	Bi³⁺
84	Polonium	Po²⁺, Po⁴⁺
85	Astatine	At⁻
86	Radon	Rn (no ion)
87	Francium	Fr⁺
88	Radium	Ra²⁺
89	Actinium	Ac³⁺
90	Thorium	Th⁴⁺
91	Protactinium	Pa⁵⁺
92	Uranium	U³⁺, U⁴⁺, U⁶⁺

Common Molecular (Polyatomic) Ions

S.No	Ion Name	Symbol / Formula
1	Ammonium	NH₄⁺
2	Hydroxide	OH⁻
3	Nitrate	NO₃⁻
4	Nitrite	NO₂⁻
5	Sulfate	SO₄²⁻
6	Sulfite	SO₃²⁻
7	Thiosulfate	S₂O₃²⁻
8	Carbonate	CO₃²⁻
9	Bicarbonate (Hydrogen carbonate)	HCO₃⁻
10	Cyanide	CN⁻
11	Acetate (Ethanoate)	CH₃COO⁻
12	Permanganate	MnO₄⁻
13	Dichromate	Cr₂O₇²⁻
14	Chromate	CrO₄²⁻
15	Phosphate	PO₄³⁻
16	Hydrogen phosphate	HPO₄²⁻
17	Dihydrogen phosphate	H₂PO₄⁻
18	Perchlorate	ClO₄⁻
19	Chlorate	ClO₃⁻
20	Chlorite	ClO₂⁻
21	Hypochlorite	ClO⁻
22	Perbromate	BrO₄⁻
23	Bromate	BrO₃⁻
24	Iodate	IO₃⁻
25	Periodate	IO₄⁻
26	Oxalate	C₂O₄²⁻
27	Peroxide	O₂²⁻
28	Silicate	SiO₃²⁻
29	Arsenate	AsO₄³⁻
30	Borate	BO₃³⁻

Must Read :