HCl
Hydrogen chloride
H+ balances chloride ions.
What Is the Charge of Hydrogen?
Hydrogen commonly forms H+ H- in introductory ionic compounds.
Quick answer: Hydrogen usually has a common ionic charge of +1 or -1, written as H+ or H-.
| Element | Hydrogen |
|---|---|
| Symbol | H |
| Atomic number | 1 |
| Common ionic charge | +1, -1 |
| Common ions | H+, H- |
Why Hydrogen has this charge
Hydrogen has common reference charges of +1, -1. Use the compound name and context to distinguish ionic charge from oxidation state.
Hydrogen charge examples
H2O
Hydrogen oxide
Hydrogen can form oxides where total positive and negative charge balances.
FAQ
Is Hydrogen 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.