Chemical Valences and Common Ion Charges

Common Valences of Chemical Elements

This section details the typical valences (or oxidation states) for various chemical elements, grouped by their respective families in the periodic table.

Alkali Metals (Group 1)

• Li Lithium: Valence 1
• Na Sodium: Valence 1
• K Potassium: Valence 1
• Rb Rubidium: Valence 1
• Cs Cesium: Valence 1
• Fr Francium: Valence 1

Alkaline Earth Metals (Group 2)

• Be Beryllium: Valence 2
• Mg Magnesium: Valence 2
• Ca Calcium: Valence 2
• Sr Strontium: Valence 2
• Ba Barium: Valence 2
• Ra Radium: Valence 2

Transition Metals & Inner Transition Metals

Transition metals often exhibit multiple valences.

• Ti Titanium: Valences 3, 4
• Cr Chromium: Valences 2, 3, 6
• Mn Manganese: Valences 2, 3, 4, 6, 7
• Fe Iron: Valences 2, 3
• Co Cobalt: Valences 2, 3
• Ni Nickel: Valences 2, 3
• Cu Copper: Valences 1, 2
• Zn Zinc: Valence 2
• Pd Palladium: Valences 2, 4
• Ag Silver: Valence 1
• Cd Cadmium: Valence 2
• Pt Platinum: Valences 2, 4
• Au Gold: Valences 1, 3
• Hg Mercury: Valences 1, 2

Actinides

• U Uranium: Valences 3, 4, 5, 6
• Pu Plutonium: Valences 3, 4, 5, 6

Boron Family (Group 13)

• B Boron: Valences 1, 3
• Al Aluminum: Valence 3
• Ga Gallium: Valence 3
• In Indium: Valence 3
• Tl Thallium: Valence 3

Carbon Family (Group 14)

• C Carbon: Valences -4, 2, 4
• Si Silicon: Valence 4
• Ge Germanium: Valence 4
• Sn Tin: Valences 2, 4
• Pb Lead: Valences 2, 4

Nitrogen Family (Group 15)

• N Nitrogen: Valences -3, 3, 5
• P Phosphorus: Valences -3, 3, 5
• As Arsenic: Valences -3, 3, 5
• Sb Antimony: Valences -3, 3, 5
• Bi Bismuth: Valences 3, 5

Oxygen Family (Group 16)

• O Oxygen: Valence -2
• S Sulfur: Valences -2, 2, 4, 6
• Te Tellurium: Valences -2, 2, 4, 6
• Po Polonium: Valences -2, 2, 4, 6

Halogen Family (Group 17)

• F Fluorine: Valence -1
• Cl Chlorine: Valences -1, 1, 3, 5, 7
• Br Bromine: Valences -1, 1, 3, 5, 7
• I Iodine: Valences -1, 1, 3, 5, 7

Common Positive Ions and Their Names

This section lists common positive ions (cations) along with their chemical formulas, charges, and traditional names.

Monatomic Cations

• H⁺ Hydrogen
• Li⁺ Lithium
• Na⁺ Sodium
• K⁺ Potassium
• Ag⁺ Silver
• Mg²⁺ Magnesium
• Ba²⁺ Barium
• Cd²⁺ Cadmium
• Ca²⁺ Calcium
• Zn²⁺ Zinc
• Sr²⁺ Strontium
• Al³⁺ Aluminum

Polyatomic & Variable Charge Cations

• NH₄⁺ Ammonium
• Cr²⁺ Chromium(II), Chromous
• Cr³⁺ Chromium(III), Chromic
• Cu⁺ Copper(I), Cuprous
• Cu²⁺ Copper(II), Cupric
• Fe²⁺ Iron(II), Ferrous
• Fe³⁺ Iron(III), Ferric
• Pb²⁺ Lead(II), Plumbous
• Pb⁴⁺ Lead(IV), Plumbic
• Mn²⁺ Manganese(II), Manganous
• Mn⁴⁺ Manganese(IV), Manganic
• Hg₂²⁺ Mercury(I), Mercurous
• Hg²⁺ Mercury(II), Mercuric
• Sn²⁺ Tin(II), Stannous
• Sn⁴⁺ Tin(IV), Stannic
• Co²⁺ Cobalt(II), Cobaltous
• Co³⁺ Cobalt(III), Cobaltic
• Ni²⁺ Nickel(II), Nickelous
• Ni³⁺ Nickel(III), Nickelic
• Pt²⁺ Platinum(II), Platinous
• Pt⁴⁺ Platinum(IV), Platinic
• Sb³⁺ Antimony(III), Antimonous
• Sb⁵⁺ Antimony(V), Antimonic
• Bi³⁺ Bismuth(III), Bismuthous
• Bi⁵⁺ Bismuth(V), Bismuthic