Polyatomic ion
A polyatomic ion is an ion (chemical compound with an electrical charge) that is made of multiple atoms. A polyatomic ion can be either a cation (positive charge) or anion (negative charge).
Many minerals contain polyatomic anions. Polyatomic cations are rarer, and are usually made by people.
| Cations | Anions | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charge | Formula | Name | Charge | Formula | Name |
| +1 | H 3O+ |
Hydronium | -1 | OH− |
Hydroxide |
| +1 | NH+ 4 |
Ammonium | -1 | NO− 3 |
Nitrate |
| +2 | Hg2+ 2 |
Mercury polycations | -1 | CH 3COO− |
Acetate |
| +2 | VO2+ | Vanadyl ion | -2 | SO2− 4 |
Sulfate |
| -2 | CO2− 3 |
Carbonate | |||
| -3 | C 3H 5O(COO)3− 3 |
Citrate | |||
| -3 | PO3− 4 |
Phosphate | |||
Polyatomic Ion Media
An electrostatic potential map of the nitrate ion (NO−
3). Areas coloured translucent red, around the outside of the red oxygen atoms themselves, signify the regions of most negative electrostatic potential.
- ChlorideionDvdW
- HypochloriteionDvdW
- ChloriteionDvdW
- ChlorateionDvdW
- PerchlorateionDvdW
