HgCl
Mercury chloride
Hg+ balances chloride ions.
What Is the Charge of Mercury?
Mercury commonly forms Hg+ Hg2+ in introductory ionic compounds.
Quick answer: Mercury usually has a common ionic charge of +1 or +2, written as Hg+ or Hg2+.
| Element | Mercury |
|---|---|
| Symbol | Hg |
| Atomic number | 80 |
| Common ionic charge | +1, +2 |
| Common ions | Hg+, Hg2+ |
Why Mercury has this charge
Mercury is a transition metal. Transition metals can have multiple charges, so compound names and roman numerals matter.
This is a classroom reference range, not an exhaustive list of all oxidation states.
Mercury charge examples
Hg2O
Mercury oxide
Mercury can form oxides where total positive and negative charge balances.
FAQ
Is Mercury 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.