NaCl
sodium chlorine compound
Sodium ions can balance Cl- in simple ionic examples.
What Is the Charge of Chlorine?
Chlorine commonly forms Cl- Cl+ Cl5+ Cl7+ in introductory ionic compounds.
Quick answer: Chlorine usually has a common ionic charge of -1 or +1 or +5 or +7, written as Cl- or Cl+ or Cl5+ or Cl7+.
| Element | Chlorine |
|---|---|
| Symbol | Cl |
| Atomic number | 17 |
| Common ionic charge | -1, +1, +5, +7 |
| Common ions | Cl-, Cl+, Cl5+, Cl7+ |
Why Chlorine has this charge
Chlorine is a halogen. In many binary ionic compounds it forms a -1 ion, though positive oxidation states can appear in oxyanions.
Chlorine charge examples
CaCl2
calcium chlorine compound
Calcium ions can balance common negative Chlorine ions.
FAQ
Is Chlorine 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.