The Placement of Positive/Negative Signs in Ionic Notation

In summary, the placement of the positive or negative sign before or after an ion's name may indicate the presence of optical rotation, as indicated in the IUPAC Red Book. While some textbooks may use the signs interchangeably, it is more common for the charge to be indicated after the ion's name. Some older textbooks may have used the signs in the "wrong" side, but this notation has largely been phased out.
  • #1
ldv1452
69
0
I've seen ions notated with the postive or negative sign both before and after the element name (usually after). Is this just preference or does its placement indicate anything?
 
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  • #3
Interesting. My textbook seems to use them interchangeably for some reason.
 
  • #4
ldv1452 said:
Interesting. My textbook seems to use them interchangeably for some reason.

Some books will flip the order in which A and Z are displaced (that was the case of my first chemistry textbook).

But I have never found a textbook indicating charges in the "wrong" side. Perhaps it's just an old notation that has since disappeared.
 
  • #5


The placement of positive and negative signs in ionic notation is not just a matter of preference, but it serves an important purpose in indicating the overall charge of the ion. In general, the positive sign is placed before the element name, while the negative sign is placed after the element name. This is because the overall charge of an ion is determined by the number of protons and electrons it contains. The positive sign indicates that the ion has lost electrons and therefore has a positive charge, while the negative sign indicates that the ion has gained electrons and has a negative charge. Therefore, the placement of the signs is crucial in accurately representing the charge of the ion in ionic notation.
 

1. What is the purpose of using positive and negative signs in ionic notation?

The positive and negative signs in ionic notation indicate the charge of an ion. This helps in understanding the overall ionic compound and its properties.

2. How are positive and negative signs placed in ionic notation?

The positive sign is always written first, followed by the negative sign. The signs are placed after the chemical symbol of the ion, with no space in between.

3. Is there a specific rule for placing positive and negative signs in ionic notation?

Yes, the positive and negative signs are placed based on the charge of the ion. A positive ion will have a plus sign (+) and a negative ion will have a minus sign (-).

4. Can the placement of positive and negative signs be changed in ionic notation?

No, the placement of positive and negative signs in ionic notation follows a specific convention and cannot be changed. Altering the placement may lead to confusion and incorrect interpretation of the compound.

5. How do I know which ion will have a positive or negative sign in ionic notation?

The charge of an ion is determined by the number of electrons gained or lost. Elements on the left side of the periodic table tend to lose electrons and form positive ions, while elements on the right side tend to gain electrons and form negative ions.

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