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polyatomic ion
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polyatomic ion

chemistry
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A polyatomic ion is a charged chemical species composed of more than one atom. These ions are held together by covalent bonds and carry a net electrical charge, either positive or negative. For example, the nitrate ion (NO₃⁻) and the ammonium ion (NH₄⁺) are polyatomic ions.1

When polyatomic ions form compounds with other ions, the total positive charge must balance the total negative charge to create a neutral compound. For instance, magnesium nitrate (Mg(NO₃)₂) is formed from a magnesium ion (Mg²⁺) and two nitrate ions (NO₃⁻) to achieve electrical neutrality. This principle applies to both ionic compounds containing single atoms and those involving polyatomic ions.2

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7 Britannica Sources
  1. ionic compound
  2. chemical compound - Ionic compounds containing polyatomic ions
  3. chemical compound - Binary ionic compounds
  4. chemical bonding - Factors favouring ionic bonding
  5. inorganic compound
  6. isopoly-
  7. mono-ion

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