Helix
November 11, 2006, 6:01pm
1
I’m curious how to correctly say chemical names having anionic and cationic charges?
For instance, when describing magnesium with a cationic charge (like in a phone conversation), should I say, “Mg plus plus” or “Mg 2” or ?
I tried Google and there is a lot of advice on pronouncing “cationic” but not so much on the rest of it.
Squink
November 11, 2006, 6:19pm
2
‘Mg plus two’ is pretty common, or ‘magnesium plus two’. Actually, for metals that don’t change redox states often, it’s more common to just call them ions: ‘magnesium ions’.
I’d say “emm-gee two-plus”. In the case of atoms which don’t have more than one ionization state (like magensium), I’d probably just say “magnesium ions”. But iron, for example, can be “eff-ee three-plus” or “eff-ee two-plus”, depending.
Dervorin:
I’d say “emm-gee two-plus”. In the case of atoms which don’t have more than one ionization state (like magensium), I’d probably just say “magnesium ions”. But iron, for example, can be “eff-ee three-plus” or “eff-ee two-plus”, depending.
AKA “ferric ions” and “ferrous ions” respectively. Hence a rusty carnival ride is a ferrous wheel!
Squink:
‘Mg plus two’ is pretty common, or ‘magnesium plus two’. Actually, for metals that don’t change redox states often, it’s more common to just call them ions: ‘magnesium ions’.
This is what I’d say, also.
JOKE ANSWER: Aluminum
Magnesium is element 12. Increment (Mg++) that, and element 13 is Aluminum. Yes, I am a total nerd.
Helix
November 11, 2006, 9:36pm
6
Many thanks for the help.
If you don’t mind, I think I’ll go stab myself in the eye with a rusty fork.
From jealousy, you understand. Not annoyance. It’s deeply iron-ic.
Sattua
November 11, 2006, 11:26pm
8
“Magnesium two plus.”
And boy, does that ion ever come up a lot in biochemistry.
I’m so proud of myself for knowing that.
M G two-plus or magnesium two-plus.
While “Mg-2-plus” is how I’d say it, one could also refer to it as the “divalent cation of Magnesium”