Transition and Variable Charge Metals

Transition and variable charge metals will have, as their name indicates, different charges. There are differing versions of these metal ions so you will need to use the charge when referring to them. These charges also should be memorized. The charge will be part of the name of a compound as well (i.e. FeCl₂ would be Iron (II) chloride to indicate the iron is the +2 version of iron.)

In naming we can also use the Latin name to indicate the higher or lower charge. For example “ic” endings indicate a higher charge version; the “ous” endings indicate the lower charge. This is similar to the more and less oxygen atoms in polyatomic ions.

For iron II or +2, we would called it ferrous while iron III or +3 would be ferric. So the same formula of would be named ferrous chloride. Copper I would be cuprous and copper II would be cupric.

Note not all metals in the transition metals (Ag, Zn) have multiple charges! For these, we do not need to give the charge since there is only one. Furthermore, there are some metals that are variable in charge, but are not in the middle 10 columns known as the transition metals (Sn, Pb are in group IV and can be +2 or +4).

Common Charges of Some Transition & Variable Metals

Ni⁺, Ni²⁺, Ni³⁺

Fe²⁺, Fe³⁺

Co²⁺, Co³⁺

Cu⁺, Cu²⁺

Hg₂⁺², Hg²⁺

Pb²⁺, Pb⁴⁺

Sn²⁺, Sn⁴⁺

Ag⁺

Zn²⁺

Cd²⁺

Mn^{2+, +3,+ 4, 5, 7}

Cr²⁺, Cr³⁺, Cr⁶⁺

Au⁺, Au³⁺