Polyatomic Ions

Compounds
&
Nomenclature
 Objectives Covered Today
* Define a polyatomic ion
* Draw Lewis structures for polyatomic ions given
appropriate information.
 Define a polyatomic ion

• Polyatomic Ion: An ion (either positively or

negatively charged) composed of two or more
atoms that are covalently bonded together and
which carry an overall electrical charge.

When drawing Lewis structures for polyatomic ions

Add one e− for each negative charge.
Subtract one e− for each positive charge.
Drawing Polyatomic Ion structures
When drawing the Lewis structure of a polyatomic ion, the
charge of the ion is reflected in the number of total valence
electrons in the structure. In the case of the ammonium ion ,
NH 4 + :
 Draw the Lewis electron dot
structure for the sulfate ion.
• Step 1: List the known quantities and plan the
problem.
• Known:
 Draw the Lewis electron dot
•
structure for the sulfate ion
The less electronegative sulfur atom is the central atom in the structure.
Place the oxygen atoms around the sulfur atom, each with a single covalent
bond. Distribute lone pairs to each oxygen atom in order to satisfy the octet
rule. Count the total number of atoms. If there are too many electrons in the
structure, make multiple bonds between the S and O.

• Step 2: Solve.

Step 3: Think about your result.

The Lewis structure for the sulfate ion consists of a central sulfur atom with
four single bonds to oxygen atoms. This yields the expected total of 32
electrons.
sulphate ion has total 6 resonance structures
 Resonance
Drawing Resonance Structures
• Resonance structures are two Lewis structures
having the same arrangement of atoms but a
different arrangement of electrons.
• Two resonance structures of bicarbonate ion HCO3−

• Neither Lewis structure is the true structure of HCO3−.

9
 More Examples Of Resonance

Many polyatomic ions also display resonance , as

in the case of the nitrate ion, NO 3 −
 Common Examples
HCO3- Bicarbonate Ion

PO43- Phosphate Ion

NH4+ Ammonium Ion

NO3- Nitrate Ion

 Practice
1. Draw the electron dot structure for the polyatomic boron
tetrafluoride anion (BF4-)
 Practice
2. Draw the electron dot structure for the
polyatomic nitrate anion (NO3-)
 Practice
3. Draw the electron dot structure for the hydrogen carbonate
ion (HCO3-). Carbon is the central atom, and hydrogen is
attached to one oxygen in this polyatomic anion.
 Practice
4. Draw the electron dot structure for the
polyatomic carbonate anion (CO3-2)

carbonate ion has total 3 resonance structures

 Practice
5. Draw the electron dot structure for the
polyatomic hydroxide anion (OH-)
6. Draw the electron dot structure for the polyatomic
hydroxide anion (PO4)3-

Phosphate ion has total 4 resonance structures