ANIONS

Anions are atoms or groups of atoms that have gained electrons. Having more negatively
charged electrons than positively charged protons, they are negatively charged. The atoms that
form ions most easily are the Group 17 (or VII) atoms, also called the halides: F, Cl, Br and I. All
these form anions with a -1 charge. O, S, N and P also form anions, carrying charges of -2
(oxygen and sulfur) or -3 (N and P).
Most anions are composed from multiple atoms, and are called polyatomic
ions (polyatomic = many atoms). Polyatomic ions are usually built around a core atom which is
more often than not a non-metal, but some metals, notably manganese and chromium, form
polyatomic ions as well. In most polyatomic ions, these atoms combine with oxygen and
sometimes with hydrogen as well. As with every other generalization, there are exceptions. For
example, SCN-, the thiocyanate ion, is polyatomic, but has neither oxygen nor hydrogen. The
negative charge (the extra electron) in the polyatomic ion is shared around the entire ion. It is not
associated with a particular nucleus in the ion, specifically not with the nucleus to which oxygen
and/or hydrogen are attached.
Common Anions

Hydride
Fluoride
Chloride
Bromide
Iodide

SIMPLE IONS
HFClBrI-

Arsenate
Arsenite
Dihydrogen phosphate

OXOANIONS
AsO43AsO33H2PO4-

Oxide
Sulfide
Nitride

O2S2N3-

Phosphate
Hydrogen phosphate

PO43HPO42-

Sulfate
Hydrogen sulfate
Thiosulfate
Sulfite

SO42HSO4S2O32SO32-

Nitrate
Nitrite

NO3NO2-

Perchlorate
Chlorate
Chlorite
Hypochlorite

ClO4ClO3ClO2OCl-

Iodate
Bromate

IO3BrO3-

Hypobromite

OBr-

Carbonate
Hydrogen carbonate or Bicarbonate

CO32HCO3-

Chromate
Dichromate

CrO42Cr2O72-

ANIONS FROM ORGANIC ACIDS

Acetate
CH3COOFormate
OTHERS
Cyanide
CNAmide
Cyanate
OCN
Peroxide
Thiocyanate
SCN
Oxalate
Hydroxide
OH
Permanganate

References:
http://chemistry.about.com/od/chartstables/a/Common-Anions.htm
http://www.launc.tased.edu.au/online/sciences/PhysSci/pschem/ion/Anions.htm

HCOONH2O22C2O42MnO4-