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.
‘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.
[QUOTE=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.
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AKA “ferric ions” and “ferrous ions” respectively. Hence a rusty carnival ride is a ferrous wheel! 
[QUOTE=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’.
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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.
Many thanks for the help.
[QUOTE=Polycarp]
AKA “ferric ions” and “ferrous ions” respectively. Hence a rusty carnival ride is a ferrous wheel!
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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.
“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”