Let us learn the names and symbols of basic radicals and acidic radicals.
Mono valent basic radicals
Name Symbol Name Symbol
Ammonium NH4 Potassium K
Copper Cu Phosphonium PH4
Hydrogen H Rubidium Rb
Gold Au Silver Ag
Lithium Li Sodium Na
Mercury Hg
Mono valent acidic radicals
Name Symbol Name Symbol
Fluoride F1 Hydroxide OH1
Chloride Cl1 Nitrite NO12
Bromide Br1 Nitrate NO13
Iodide I1 Cyanide CN1
Hypochlorite ClO1 Superoxide O12
Chlorite ClO21 Formate HCOO1
Chlorate ClO13 Acetate CH3 COO1
Hydride H1 Permanganate MnO14
Bivalent basic radicals
Name Symbol Name Symbol
Barium Ba2 Magnesium Mg2
Calcium Ca2 Manganese Mn2
Iron Fe2 Mercury Hg2
Lead Pb2 Nickel Ni2
Copper Cu2 Radium Ra2
Cobalt Co2 Strontium Sr 2
Cadmium Cd2 Zinc Zn2
Bivalent acidic radicals
Name Symbol
Oxide O 2
Peroxide 2
O2
Sulphide 2
S
Carbonate 2
CO3
2
Sulphate SO4
Sulphite 2
SO3
Trivalent basic radicals
Name Symbol
Antimony Sb3
Gold Au3
Arsenic As3
Aluminium Al3
Chromium Cr 3
Cobalt Co3
Manganese Mn3
Iron Fe3
Trivalent acidic radicals
Name Symbol
Aluminate 3
AlO3
Arsenide As3
Phosphite PO3
3
3
Phosphate PO4
Phosphide P3
Nitride N3
Tetravalent basic radicals
Name Symbol
Platinum Pt 4
Tin(stannic) Sn4
Lead (plumbic) Pb4
Tetravalent Acidic radicals
Name Symbol
Ferrocyanide Fe CN 6
4
Carbide C4
Pentavalent basic radicals
Name Symbol
Antimony Sb5
Arsenic As5
Variable valency: Some elements show more than one valency and are said to possess variable valency.
Elements Valency Name Symbol
+2 Ferrous Fe2+
1. Iron
+3 Ferric Fe3+
+1 Cuprous Cu+
2. Copper
+2 Cupric Cu2+
+1 Mercurous Hg22
3. Mercury
+2 Mercuric Hg2+
+2 Plumbous Pb2+
4. Lead
+4 Plumbic Pb4+
5. Tin +2 Stannous Sn2+
