CaCl2
Calcium chloride
Ca2+ balances chloride ions.
What Is the Charge of Calcium?
Calcium commonly forms Ca2+ in introductory ionic compounds.
Quick answer: Calcium usually has a common ionic charge of +2, written as Ca2+.
| Element | Calcium |
|---|---|
| Symbol | Ca |
| Atomic number | 20 |
| Common ionic charge | +2 |
| Common ions | Ca2+ |
Why Calcium has this charge
Calcium is an alkaline earth metal, so it commonly loses two electrons and forms a +2 ion.
Calcium charge examples
CaO
Calcium oxide
Calcium can form oxides where total positive and negative charge balances.
FAQ
Is Calcium 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.