How do you know the charge of polyatomic ions?

Oxidation Numbers for Polyatomic Ions?

  • Ba(SCN)2 : I know that the Ba has to have the +2 charge but I need to know the oxidation numbers for the polyatomic ion SCN. Same thing for this molecule Ca(C2H3O2). Thanks!

  • Answer:

    The polyatomic ion, thioscyanate (SCN-), has a -1 charge which is why two of the ions are needed to counteract the +2 charge of barium. This follows the chemical principle of electroneutrality. Calcium also has a +2 charge since it is a group 2 metal. For the C2H3O2, this is not a familiar ion to me but since only one of it is present, the C2H3O2 group as a whole must have a -2 charge. The oxygen will almost always have a -2 charge while the hydrogen invariably has a +1 charge. This would lead one to believe that each carbon has a -0.5 charge. This is unusual.

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