Na2S
sodium sulfur compound
Sodium ions can balance S2- in simple ionic examples.
What Is the Charge of Sulfur?
Sulfur commonly forms S2- S4+ S6+ in introductory ionic compounds.
Quick answer: Sulfur usually has a common ionic charge of -2 or +4 or +6, written as S2- or S4+ or S6+.
| Element | Sulfur |
|---|---|
| Symbol | S |
| Atomic number | 16 |
| Common ionic charge | -2, +4, +6 |
| Common ions | S2-, S4+, S6+ |
Why Sulfur has this charge
Sulfur has common reference charges of -2, +4, +6. Use the compound name and context to distinguish ionic charge from oxidation state.
Sulfur charge examples
CaS
calcium sulfur compound
Calcium ions can balance common negative Sulfur ions.
FAQ
Is Sulfur 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.