Roman numerals matter
Iron(II) and iron(III) are different ions. The number in parentheses gives the positive charge on the metal.
Transition Metal Charges
Transition metals often have more than one charge. Use roman numerals in compound names to choose the correct ion.
Formula context helps
If the name is missing, use the anion charge and the formula subscripts to calculate the metal charge.
Fixed-charge metals
Some metals are easier: zinc is usually +2, silver is usually +1, and cadmium is usually +2 in introductory chemistry.
Transition metal charge chart
| Element | Symbol | Common charges | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scandium | Sc | +3 | This is a classroom reference range, not an exhaustive list of all oxidation states. |
| Titanium | Ti | +3, +4 | This is a classroom reference range, not an exhaustive list of all oxidation states. |
| Vanadium | V | +2, +3, +4, +5 | This is a classroom reference range, not an exhaustive list of all oxidation states. |
| Chromium | Cr | +2, +3, +6 | This is a classroom reference range, not an exhaustive list of all oxidation states. |
| Manganese | Mn | +2, +4, +7 | This is a classroom reference range, not an exhaustive list of all oxidation states. |
| Iron | Fe | +2, +3 | This is a classroom reference range, not an exhaustive list of all oxidation states. |
| Cobalt | Co | +2, +3 | This is a classroom reference range, not an exhaustive list of all oxidation states. |
| Nickel | Ni | +2, +3 | This is a classroom reference range, not an exhaustive list of all oxidation states. |
| Copper | Cu | +1, +2 | This is a classroom reference range, not an exhaustive list of all oxidation states. |
| Zinc | Zn | +2 | This is a classroom reference range, not an exhaustive list of all oxidation states. |
| Yttrium | Y | +3 | This is a classroom reference range, not an exhaustive list of all oxidation states. |
| Zirconium | Zr | +4 | This is a classroom reference range, not an exhaustive list of all oxidation states. |
| Niobium | Nb | +3, +5 | This is a classroom reference range, not an exhaustive list of all oxidation states. |
| Molybdenum | Mo | +4, +6 | This is a classroom reference range, not an exhaustive list of all oxidation states. |
| Technetium | Tc | +4, +7 | This is a classroom reference range, not an exhaustive list of all oxidation states. |
| Ruthenium | Ru | +3, +4 | This is a classroom reference range, not an exhaustive list of all oxidation states. |
| Rhodium | Rh | +3 | This is a classroom reference range, not an exhaustive list of all oxidation states. |
| Palladium | Pd | +2, +4 | This is a classroom reference range, not an exhaustive list of all oxidation states. |
| Silver | Ag | +1 | This is a classroom reference range, not an exhaustive list of all oxidation states. |
| Cadmium | Cd | +2 | This is a classroom reference range, not an exhaustive list of all oxidation states. |
| Lanthanum | La | +3 | This is a classroom reference range, not an exhaustive list of all oxidation states. |
| Cerium | Ce | +3, +4 | This is a classroom reference range, not an exhaustive list of all oxidation states. |
| Praseodymium | Pr | +3, +4 | This is a classroom reference range, not an exhaustive list of all oxidation states. |
| Neodymium | Nd | +3 | This is a classroom reference range, not an exhaustive list of all oxidation states. |
| Promethium | Pm | +3 | This is a classroom reference range, not an exhaustive list of all oxidation states. |
| Samarium | Sm | +2, +3 | This is a classroom reference range, not an exhaustive list of all oxidation states. |
| Europium | Eu | +2, +3 | This is a classroom reference range, not an exhaustive list of all oxidation states. |
| Gadolinium | Gd | +3 | This is a classroom reference range, not an exhaustive list of all oxidation states. |
| Terbium | Tb | +3, +4 | This is a classroom reference range, not an exhaustive list of all oxidation states. |
| Dysprosium | Dy | +3 | This is a classroom reference range, not an exhaustive list of all oxidation states. |
| Holmium | Ho | +3 | This is a classroom reference range, not an exhaustive list of all oxidation states. |
| Erbium | Er | +3 | This is a classroom reference range, not an exhaustive list of all oxidation states. |
| Thulium | Tm | +3 | This is a classroom reference range, not an exhaustive list of all oxidation states. |
| Ytterbium | Yb | +2, +3 | This is a classroom reference range, not an exhaustive list of all oxidation states. |
| Lutetium | Lu | +3 | This is a classroom reference range, not an exhaustive list of all oxidation states. |
| Hafnium | Hf | +4 | This is a classroom reference range, not an exhaustive list of all oxidation states. |
| Tantalum | Ta | +5 | This is a classroom reference range, not an exhaustive list of all oxidation states. |
| Tungsten | W | +4, +6 | This is a classroom reference range, not an exhaustive list of all oxidation states. |
| Rhenium | Re | +4, +7 | This is a classroom reference range, not an exhaustive list of all oxidation states. |
| Osmium | Os | +3, +4 | This is a classroom reference range, not an exhaustive list of all oxidation states. |
| Iridium | Ir | +3, +4 | This is a classroom reference range, not an exhaustive list of all oxidation states. |
| Platinum | Pt | +2, +4 | This is a classroom reference range, not an exhaustive list of all oxidation states. |
| Gold | Au | +1, +3 | This is a classroom reference range, not an exhaustive list of all oxidation states. |
| Mercury | Hg | +1, +2 | This is a classroom reference range, not an exhaustive list of all oxidation states. |
| Actinium | Ac | +3 | This is a classroom reference range, not an exhaustive list of all oxidation states. |
| Thorium | Th | +4 | This is a classroom reference range, not an exhaustive list of all oxidation states. |
| Protactinium | Pa | +4, +5 | This is a classroom reference range, not an exhaustive list of all oxidation states. |
| Uranium | U | +4, +6 | This is a classroom reference range, not an exhaustive list of all oxidation states. |
| Neptunium | Np | +3, +4, +5, +6 | This is a classroom reference range, not an exhaustive list of all oxidation states. |
| Plutonium | Pu | +3, +4, +5, +6 | This is a classroom reference range, not an exhaustive list of all oxidation states. |
| Americium | Am | +3 | This is a classroom reference range, not an exhaustive list of all oxidation states. |
| Curium | Cm | +3 | This is a classroom reference range, not an exhaustive list of all oxidation states. |
| Berkelium | Bk | +3, +4 | This is a classroom reference range, not an exhaustive list of all oxidation states. |
| Californium | Cf | +3 | This is a classroom reference range, not an exhaustive list of all oxidation states. |
| Einsteinium | Es | +3 | This is a classroom reference range, not an exhaustive list of all oxidation states. |
| Fermium | Fm | +3 | This is a classroom reference range, not an exhaustive list of all oxidation states. |
| Mendelevium | Md | +2, +3 | This is a classroom reference range, not an exhaustive list of all oxidation states. |
| Nobelium | No | +2, +3 | This is a classroom reference range, not an exhaustive list of all oxidation states. |
| Lawrencium | Lr | +3 | This is a classroom reference range, not an exhaustive list of all oxidation states. |
| Rutherfordium | Rf | +4 | This is a classroom reference range, not an exhaustive list of all oxidation states. |
| Dubnium | Db | +5 | This is a classroom reference range, not an exhaustive list of all oxidation states. |
| Seaborgium | Sg | +6 | This is a classroom reference range, not an exhaustive list of all oxidation states. |
| Bohrium | Bh | +7 | This is a classroom reference range, not an exhaustive list of all oxidation states. |
| Hassium | Hs | +8 | This is a classroom reference range, not an exhaustive list of all oxidation states. |
| Meitnerium | Mt | varies | No common simple ion is listed; verify advanced oxidation-state chemistry with a primary reference. |
| Darmstadtium | Ds | varies | No common simple ion is listed; verify advanced oxidation-state chemistry with a primary reference. |
| Roentgenium | Rg | varies | No common simple ion is listed; verify advanced oxidation-state chemistry with a primary reference. |
| Copernicium | Cn | varies | No common simple ion is listed; verify advanced oxidation-state chemistry with a primary reference. |