Dr. Helmenstine holds a Ph.D. in biomedical sciences and is a science writer, educator, and consultant. She has taught science courses at the high school, college, and graduate levels.
Updated on May 29, 2024The most-requested printable periodic table lists element charges to help predict compounds and chemical reactions. However, one of the reasons you don't normally see a table with charges is because the organization of the table offers a clue to common charges, plus elements can have just about any charge given enough energy and the right conditions.
Even so, here's a table of element charges for readers seeking the most common ionic charges of element atoms. Just keep in mind elements may carry other charges. For example, hydrogen can carry a charge of -1 or +1. Also, the octet rule, which states that atoms tend to gain or lose electrons to achieve a stable configuration of eight valence electrons, doesn't always apply to ionic charges. In some cases, the charge can even exceed +8 or -8.
You can use periodic table trends to predict the most common element charges. Group I (alkali metals) carry a +1 charge, Group II (alkaline earth metals) carry a +2, Group VII (halogens) carry -1, and Group VIII (noble gases) carry a 0 charge. Metal ions may have other charges or oxidation states. For example, copper usually has a +1 or +2 valence, while iron typically has a +2 or +3 oxidation state. Similarly, rare earths often carry many different ionic charges.
A table with common ionic charges can also help determine oxidation states and chemical reactions. For example, knowing that iron can have a +2 or +3 charge can help predict the formation of compounds like FeO (iron(II) oxide) or Fe2O3 (iron(III) oxide). Based on the common charges, we know iron can lose two or three electrons to achieve a stable electron configuration, resulting in Fe 2+ or Fe 3+ ions, which can then combine with oxygen ions (O 2- ) to form stable ionic compounds.
Here's a huge collection of printable periodic tables including all 118 elements. These tables can come in handy for students, teachers, and researchers who need a quick reference for element properties or periodic trends during studying, teaching, or research activities.
There are various color schemes and varieties with different types of information, and there's even a blank one to help you quiz yourself.