Oxyanion Definition in Chemistry

The hypochlorite anion in sodium hypochlorite (bleach) is an example of a common oxyanion.
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By
Anne Marie Helmenstine, Ph.D.
Anne Marie Helmenstine, Ph.D.
Chemistry Expert
  • Ph.D., Biomedical Sciences, University of Tennessee at Knoxville
  • B.A., Physics and Mathematics, Hastings College
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.
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Updated on January 06, 2020

An anion is an ion that carries a net negative electrical charges. Because the anions are such a large group of ions, they may be further divided according to type. One type of anion is an oxyanion or oxoanion.

Oxyanion Definition

An oxyanion is an anion containing oxygen. The general formula of an oxyanion is AxOyz-, where A is an element symbol, O is an oxygen atom, and x, y, and z are integer values. Most elements can form oxyanions, meeting the conditions of the octet rule.

Oxyanion Examples

Nitrate (NO3-), Nitrite (NO2-), sulfite (SO32-) and hypochlorite (ClO-) are all oxyanions.

Source

  • Mueller, U. (1993). Inorganic Structural Chemistry. Wiley. 
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Helmenstine, Anne Marie, Ph.D. "Oxyanion Definition in Chemistry." ThoughtCo, Aug. 27, 2020, thoughtco.com/definition-of-oxyanion-605462. Helmenstine, Anne Marie, Ph.D. (2020, August 27). Oxyanion Definition in Chemistry. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/definition-of-oxyanion-605462 Helmenstine, Anne Marie, Ph.D. "Oxyanion Definition in Chemistry." ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/definition-of-oxyanion-605462 (accessed April 25, 2024).