BaCl2
Barium chloride
Ba2+ balances chloride ions.
What Is the Charge of Barium?
Barium commonly forms Ba2+ in introductory ionic compounds.
Quick answer: Barium usually has a common ionic charge of +2, written as Ba2+.
| Element | Barium |
|---|---|
| Symbol | Ba |
| Atomic number | 56 |
| Common ionic charge | +2 |
| Common ions | Ba2+ |
Why Barium has this charge
Barium is an alkaline earth metal, so it commonly loses two electrons and forms a +2 ion.
Barium charge examples
BaO
Barium oxide
Barium can form oxides where total positive and negative charge balances.
FAQ
Is Barium charge the same as oxidation state?
Ionic charge is the charge on an actual ion. Oxidation state is a bookkeeping number used inside compounds. They can match, but they are not always the same thing.
How do I use this in formulas?
Combine positive and negative ions so the total charge is zero. You can also use the ionic compound calculator.
Where can I see the full chart?
Use the periodic table with charges or the ionic charges chart.