Easy Method to Learn Most of the Basic Polyatomics

This is the EASIEST explanation and method of knowing polyatomics that I have learned (so far)

Polyatomics (an easy method to know most of them)

P S

(group 7 & N) # 0f 'O' -1 charge (H out front = ____"acid") CHARGE: -3 -2

Per __4__ ate................................................... _5_ _5_

__3__ ate -ic (I felt ic-ky after I ATE) ........................... _4__ __4_

__2__ ite -ous ........................................ _3_ _3_

Hypo_1_ ite .................................................. __2__ _2_

This applies to al of the group 7 elements (halogens), Carbon. Nitrogen, phosphorous, and sulfur There are of course a FEW things that you do actually need to 'remember'.

As 'polyatomics';

Group 7 and Nitrogen = -1 charge

Carbon has a -2 charge as a polyatomic... same number of 'O's as group 7 though

*** that was the easiest part... now for the couple of exceptions:

THESE GUYS ARE TOTALLY SELFISH!... NEED MORE OXYGEN!! Well... only ONE more... AND THEY WANT TO KEEP THE SAME CHARGE!!

Phosphorous as an element has a -3 charge... guess what? As a polyatomic it STILL has a -3 charge

Sulfur as an element has a charge of -2... guess what? As a polyatomic it still has a -2 charge

EXAMPLES:

BrO4^-1--------------- PerBromate

BrO3^-1-----------------Bromate

(H out front = acid)

HBrO3^-1--------------Bromic acid

HBrO2^-1------------Bromite

HBrO2^-1-----------Bromous acid

BrO^-1--------------Hypobromite

*Notice this is one of the exceptions........

SO5^-2-------------Persulfate

SO4^-2-------------Sulfate

HSO4^-2---------Sulfuric Acid

HSO3^-2-------Sulfite

HSO3^-2------Sulfurous Acid

SO2^-2------- Hyposulfite