PaCl4
Protactinium chloride
Pa4+ balances chloride ions.
What Is the Charge of Protactinium?
Protactinium commonly forms Pa4+ Pa5+ in introductory ionic compounds.
Quick answer: Protactinium usually has a common ionic charge of +4 or +5, written as Pa4+ or Pa5+.
| Element | Protactinium |
|---|---|
| Symbol | Pa |
| Atomic number | 91 |
| Common ionic charge | +4, +5 |
| Common ions | Pa4+, Pa5+ |
Why Protactinium has this charge
Protactinium is an actinide. Its chemistry can be specialized, but +4, +5 is the most useful introductory reference range.
This is a classroom reference range, not an exhaustive list of all oxidation states.
Protactinium charge examples
Pa2O3
Protactinium oxide
Protactinium can form oxides where total positive and negative charge balances.
FAQ
Is Protactinium 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.