An overview of our work in the areas of polynitrogen and high-nitrogen and high-oxygen chemistry is given. Areas of interest include the synthesis and characterization of novel polynitrogen ions, such as N-5(+) and N-5(-). Efforts are discussed to combine the N-5(+) cation with energetic counter-ions, such as N-3(-), NO3-, ClO4-, B(N-3)(4)(-) and P(N-3)(6)-. In the area of high-oxygen carriers, complex nitrato anions were successfully combined with tetrazolium cations to yield CO/H2O balanced ionic liquids of interest for liquid monopropellants.