Main group elements
Use the group number to predict common charges for alkali metals, alkaline earth metals, halogens, oxygen, and nitrogen.
Quick answer
Periodic Table with Charges
A periodic table with charges shows the most common ionic charges for each element. It is useful for predicting ions and writing ionic compound formulas.
Group 1 elements usually form +1 ions, Group 2 elements usually form +2 ions, halogens usually form -1 ions, and transition metals often have multiple charges.
Element charge result
Sodium usually forms Na+
- Symbol
- Na
- Common ionic charges
- +1
- Common ions
- Na+
Sodium is an alkali metal, so it commonly loses one electron and forms a +1 ion.
HTML table for search and printing
Common ionic charges on the periodic table
Charge values are simplified for introductory chemistry and homework use.
2HeHeliumno common simple ion4BeBeryllium+29FFluorine-110NeNeonno common simple ion12MgMagnesium+213AlAluminum+317ClChlorine-1, +1, +5, +718ArArgonno common simple ion20CaCalcium+231GaGallium+335BrBromine-1, +1, +536KrKryptonno common simple ion38SrStrontium+249InIndium+1, +350SnTin+2, +453IIodine-1, +1, +5, +754XeXenonno common simple ion56BaBarium+257LaLanthanum+358CeCerium+3, +459PrPraseodymium+3, +460NdNeodymium+361PmPromethium+362SmSamarium+2, +363EuEuropium+2, +364GdGadolinium+365TbTerbium+3, +466DyDysprosium+367HoHolmium+368ErErbium+369TmThulium+370YbYtterbium+2, +371LuLutetium+381TlThallium+1, +382PbLead+2, +483BiBismuth+3, +584PoPolonium+2, +485AtAstatine-1, +186RnRadonno common simple ion88RaRadium+289AcActinium+390ThThorium+491PaProtactinium+4, +592UUranium+4, +693NpNeptunium+3, +4, +5, +694PuPlutonium+3, +4, +5, +695AmAmericium+396CmCurium+397BkBerkelium+3, +498CfCalifornium+399EsEinsteinium+3100FmFermium+3101MdMendelevium+2, +3102NoNobelium+2, +3103LrLawrencium+3113NhNihonium+1, +3114FlFlerovium+2, +4115McMoscoviumno common simple ion116LvLivermoriumno common simple ion117TsTennessineno common simple ion118OgOganessonno common simple ion
Alkali metals Alkaline earth metals Transition metals Halogens Nonmetals Noble gases Lanthanides Actinides
How to use this charge table
Transition metals
Check the compound name or roman numeral because iron, copper, tin, lead, mercury, and other metals can have more than one charge.
Ionic formulas
Balance total positive and negative charges so the final ionic compound has a net charge of zero.
Valence charges on the periodic table
Students sometimes search for valence charges when they mean the common ionic charges shown on a periodic table. The terms are related, but they are not identical. Valence electrons describe the outer electrons of an atom, ionic charge describes the charge on an actual ion, and oxidation state is a bookkeeping value used inside compounds.
This table focuses on common ionic charges used for naming ions and writing ionic formulas. For many main group elements, the charge follows a predictable pattern from the group number. Transition metals need more care because the same metal can form more than one ion.