What is the Ionic Charge of Platinum (Pt)? And Why?

The common Ionic Charge of Platinum (Pt) is 2+ and 4+, but it also shows other ionic charges.

But the question is how can you find the ionic charge on Platinum (Pt)?

Well, platinum is a transition element and all the transition and post-transition elements have a variable ionic charge.

The ionic charge of platinum (or any other transition or post transition elements) depends on what it is bonded with.

So let’s try to find out the ionic charge of Platinum (Pt) using some examples.

You can also refer to the below video from which you will learn to find charge of any ion.

How to find the ionic charge of Platinum (Pt)?

As I mentioned earlier, the ionic charge of Platinum (Pt) can be found out by looking at what it is bonded with.

So let’s take examples of compounds of Platinum (Pt) like PtCl₂, PtF₂, PtO₂, etc.

Example 1: PtCl₂
In PtCl₂, the Platinum (Pt) is bonded to Chlorine (Cl).
You know that the ionic charge of Cl is 1-.
So you can easily say that the ionic charge of Pt should be 2+, then only it will get canceled out.
Hence the ionic charge of Platinum in PtCl₂ is 2+.

Example 2: PtF₂
In PtF₂, the Platinum (Pt) is bonded to Fluorine (F).
And again, you know that the ionic charge of F is 1-.
So here also you can easily say that the ionic charge of Pt should be 2+, then only it will get canceled out.
Hence the ionic charge of Platinum in PtF₂ is 2+.

Example 3: PtO₂
Similarly in PtO₂, the Platinum (Pt) is bonded to Oxygen (O).
And you know that the ionic charge of O is 2-.
So from this, you can easily say that the ionic charge of Pt should be 4+, then only it will get canceled out.
Hence the ionic charge of Platinum in PtO₂ is 4+.

In this way, Platinum can have variable charges depending on what it is bonded to.

I hope you have understood why platinum has variable ionic charges.

Check out some other related topics for your practice.

Related topics:
Charge on NO
Charge of Xenon (Xe)
Charge of Bismuth (Bi)
Charge on H2O2
Charge of Indium (In)