Science & STEM

Ions Quick Check: Charges and Symbols Quiz

Moderate2-5mins

This quiz helps you practice ion charges and symbols so you can spot Ag+, Fe3+, and common polyatomic groups with confidence. For extra practice, try our common polyatomic ions quiz and a polyatomic ions charge quiz, or brush up on element abbreviations with a chemical symbols quiz.

Start Quiz
Paper art illustration for ions quiz on teal background
25Questions
InstantResults
FreeAlways
DetailedExplanations
Take the Quiz
1What is the charge on a sodium ion (Na)?
2What is the charge on a chloride ion (Cl)?
3What is the charge on a magnesium ion (Mg)?
4What is the charge on an oxide ion (O)?
5What is the charge on a calcium ion (Ca)?
6What is the charge on an aluminum ion (Al)?
7What is the charge on a potassium ion (K)?
8What is the charge on a fluoride ion (F)?
9What is the charge on a lithium ion (Li)?
10What is the charge on a sulfate ion (SO4)?
11What is the charge on a nitrate ion (NO3)?
12What is the charge on an ammonium ion (NH4)?
13What is the charge on a phosphate ion (PO4)?
14What is the charge on a hydroxide ion (OH)?
15What is the charge on a silver ion (Ag)?
16What is the charge on an iron(II) ion (Fe)?
17What is the charge on an iron(III) ion (Fe)?
18What is the charge on a copper(I) ion (Cu)?
19What is the charge on a copper(II) ion (Cu)?
20What is the charge on a zinc ion (Zn)?
21What is the charge on a lead(II) ion (Pb)?
22What is the charge on a lead(IV) ion (Pb)?
23What is the charge on a tin(II) ion (Sn)?
24What is the charge on a tin(IV) ion (Sn)?
25What is the charge on a cobalt(II) ion (Co)?
26What is the charge on a cobalt(III) ion (Co)?
27What is the charge on a permanganate ion (MnO4)?
28What is the charge on an acetate ion (C2H3O2)?
29What is the charge on a dichromate ion (Cr2O7)?
30What is the charge on a chromate ion (CrO4)?
31What is the charge on a peroxide ion (O2)?
32What is the charge on a superoxide ion (O2)?
33What is the charge on a carbonate ion (CO3)?
34What is the charge on a hydrogen carbonate ion (HCO3)?
35What is the charge on a hydrogen phosphate ion (HPO4)?
36What is the charge on a dihydrogen phosphate ion (H2PO4)?
37What is the charge on a sulfite ion (SO3)?
38What is the charge on a bisulfite ion (HSO3)?
39What is the charge on a cyanide ion (CN)?
40What is the charge on a thiocyanate ion (SCN)?
41What is the charge on a hypochlorite ion (ClO)?
42What is the charge on a perchlorate ion (ClO4)?
43What is the charge on the chromyl cation (CrO2)?
44What is the charge on the peroxydisulfate ion (S2O8)?
45What is the charge on the thiosulfate ion (S2O3)?
46What is the charge on the periodate ion (IO4)?
47What is the charge on the hexacyanoferrate(III) ion ([Fe(CN)6])?
48What is the charge on the hexachloroplatinate(IV) ion ([PtCl6])?
Learning Goals

Study Outcomes

  1. Understand Ionic Charge Basics -

    Learn how to determine charges for ions by applying the periodic trends and electron configurations that govern ion formation.

  2. Identify Ion Symbols -

    Recognize and write the correct symbol ion notation for various elements, ensuring you know how to display both the element and its charge.

  3. Calculate the Ion Charge of Ag -

    Apply your knowledge to determine the specific charge on the ion of silver (Ag) and compare it with other transition metal ions.

  4. Apply Charge Rules in Compounds -

    Use your understanding of charge on the ion to balance ionic compounds and predict the formulas of salts.

  5. Test and Evaluate Your Skills -

    Challenge yourself with targeted quiz questions to reinforce how to determine charges of ions and solidify your mastery of ionic charge concepts.

Study Guide

Cheat Sheet

  1. Predicting Main-Group Ion Charges -

    Main-group elements follow a simple rule: Group 1 forms +1 ions, Group 2 forms +2, Group 16 forms −2, and Group 17 forms −1 (Chemistry LibreTexts). This pattern makes determining charges for ions as easy as matching the element's group number to its charge on the ion. For example, oxygen (Group 16) consistently forms O2− while sodium (Group 1) forms Na+.

  2. Silver's Unique Ion Charge (Ag+) -

    Unlike many transition metals, silver almost always forms a +1 ion charge of Ag (American Chemical Society). Remember that the ion charge of Ag is virtually always Ag+ in ionic compounds, simplifying how to determine charges of ions when silver is involved. Rare exceptions like Ag2O still reflect this predominant +1 state per atom.

  3. Memorizing Common Polyatomic Ion Symbols -

    Polyatomic ions, such as sulfate (SO42−), nitrate (NO3−), and ammonium (NH4+), have fixed symbol ions that must be memorized (Royal Society of Chemistry). Using flashcards or charts helps you quickly recall both the symbol and charge on the ion. A handy tip: group them by charge (+1, −1, −2) to build mental associations.

  4. Balancing Ionic Formulas by Charge -

    To write a neutral compound, the total positive and negative charges must cancel out (Chemguide, UK). For instance, combining Al3+ and SO42− requires two Al3+ ions and three SO42− ions, yielding Al2(SO4)3. This ensures the net charge of the formula is zero and reinforces how to determine charges of ions in compounds.

  5. Mnemonic Tricks for Ion Charges -

    Use memory aids like "Nick the Camel ate a Clam for Supper in Phoenix" to recall NO3−, CO32−, Cl−, SO42−, and PO43− (University of Wisconsin - Madison). Breaking down the phrase into element symbols and oxidation numbers helps you internalize common polyatomic charges. This fun trick boosts confidence when identifying the charge on the ion during quizzes.

Explore More

Chemistry Quizzes

Polyatomic Ions Quiz - Names, Formulas, and ChargesPolyatomic Ions QuizFarming Land Use Quick Check QuizHydraulic Symbols TestPeriodic Table Abbreviations Quiz - Name the SymbolsMETAR Quiz
AI-DraftedHuman-Reviewed
Reviewed by
Michael HodgeEdTech Product Lead & Assessment Design SpecialistQuiz Maker
Updated Feb 19, 2026