| By removing the free metal ions from solution, the formation of the chloride containing polyatomic ions allows the oxidation reaction to continue toward equilibrium. |
| The sum of oxidation numbers for all atoms in a polyatomic ion equals the charge on the ion, and the sum of all oxidation numbers for atoms in a neutral molecule equals zero. |
| A polyatomic molecule with bonds which are polar is not necessarily polar itself. |
| Compounds containing polyatomic ions are composed of three or more elements and usually consist of one or more cations combined with a negative polyatomic ion. |
| Atoms of two or more elements can also combine to form a polyatomic ion, a chemically distinct species with an electric charge. |
| In contrast most other nonmetals tend to form polyatomic molecules in the gaseous state. |
