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Ionic Compound Naming Flashcards: Names, Formulas & Charge Balance

Practice ionic compound naming with 56 English flashcards on neutral formulas, Roman numerals, polyatomic-ion parentheses, and common errors.

Mwandishi Open Study Contributor

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Practice ionic compound names and neutral formulas with 56 English flashcards. This focused deck is for high-school and introductory-college learners who know basic ions and want to apply charge balance consistently.

The cards practice names to formulas, selected formulas back to names, metal-charge inference, one polyatomic-group count, and short repairs of incorrect formulas or missing naming information. Ion charges and polyatomic-ion names are supplied where the target is applying a rule. This is compound-naming practice rather than a table of isolated ions; use the polyatomic ion flashcards for that prerequisite.

The sequence begins with neutrality, cation-first order, subscripts, and the smallest whole-number ratio of intact ions. Fixed-charge binary salts come next, followed by iron, copper, and tin Stock names. Polyatomic groups and ammonium then lead into mixed formula, naming, and error-repair prompts. Selected reverse directions and closely related variants are separated. Every card carries the ionic-naming tag; the review scheduler handles longer-term spacing.

Names follow the usual introductory convention: fixed-charge cations without Roman numerals, variable-charge monatomic metals with Stock Roman numerals, and familiar polyatomic-ion names. Aluminum and aluminium are accepted spelling variants; sodium hydrogen carbonate and sodium bicarbonate are both accepted. This convention does not exhaust all valid systematic names. Arbitrary name-to-example prompts and exhaustive reversals are omitted because they add ambiguity or repetition. Covalent naming, acids, hydrates, organic compounds, coordination complexes, peroxide and mercury(I) special cases, reactions, and solubility are outside this deck. No full-course or examination alignment is claimed.

The questions, explanations, order, and metadata were written independently with AI assistance. Naming and ion facts were checked against Purdue University’s ionic-naming rules and ion reference tables. No competitor cards, source exercise wording, examination questions, or source diagrams were copied. Reference works retain their own rights, and chemical facts are not claimed as proprietary. Original material, including the AI-generated decorative charge-symbol cover, is dedicated under CC0 1.0 to the extent applicable rights exist. This is independent study material without institutional endorsement.

Kadi za fungu hili

  1. Kadi namba 1

    Swali

    In a neutral ionic formula unit, what must the total ionic charge be?

    Jibu

    Zero. The positive and negative charges must cancel.

  2. Kadi namba 2

    Swali

    When naming a simple ionic compound, which ion is named first?

    Jibu

    The cation, followed by the anion.

  3. Kadi namba 3

    Swali

    Write the formula for lithium fluoride using Li⁺ and F⁻.

    Jibu

    LiF. One ion of each kind gives +1 − 1 = 0.

  4. Kadi namba 4

    Swali

    In CaCl₂, what does the subscript 2 count?

    Jibu

    Two chloride ions for each calcium ion. It does not mean that each chloride ion has a charge of −2.

  5. Kadi namba 5

    Swali

    Name MgO using the usual fixed-charge ionic naming convention.

    Jibu

    Magnesium oxide. The ions are Mg²⁺ and O²⁻.

  6. Kadi namba 6

    Swali

    What is the smallest neutral ratio of Al³⁺ ions to O²⁻ ions?

    Jibu

    Two Al³⁺ ions to three O²⁻ ions: +6 and −6 cancel.

  7. Kadi namba 7

    Swali

    Write the formula for magnesium bromide using Mg²⁺ and Br⁻.

    Jibu

    MgBr₂. Two bromide ions balance one magnesium ion.

  8. Kadi namba 8

    Swali

    Name Na₂S using the usual fixed-charge ionic naming convention.

    Jibu

    Sodium sulfide. The sulfur anion is called sulfide.

  9. Kadi namba 9

    Swali

    Write the simplest formula for calcium oxide using Ca²⁺ and O²⁻.

    Jibu

    CaO. Equal and opposite charges give a 1:1 ion ratio.

  10. Kadi namba 10

    Swali

    Write the formula for aluminum nitride using Al³⁺ and N³⁻.

    Jibu

    AlN. One ion of each kind is neutral. Aluminium nitride is the same compound, with the British spelling.

  11. Kadi namba 11

    Swali

    Name Mg₃N₂ using the usual fixed-charge ionic naming convention.

    Jibu

    Magnesium nitride. Three Mg²⁺ ions balance two N³⁻ ions.

  12. Kadi namba 12

    Swali

    Write the formula for lithium oxide using Li⁺ and O²⁻.

    Jibu

    Li₂O. Two lithium ions balance one oxide ion.

  13. Kadi namba 13

    Swali

    Name CaF₂ using the usual fixed-charge ionic naming convention.

    Jibu

    Calcium fluoride. This convention uses the ion names without a di- prefix for the two fluoride ions.

  14. Kadi namba 14

    Swali

    A student writes Mg₂O₂ for magnesium oxide, using Mg²⁺ and O²⁻. What is the simplest formula?

    Jibu

    MgO. The 2:2 ion ratio is neutral but reduces to 1:1.

  15. Kadi namba 15

    Swali

    Name Al₂S₃ using the usual fixed-charge ionic naming convention.

    Jibu

    Aluminum sulfide (also spelled aluminium sulfide). Two Al³⁺ ions balance three S²⁻ ions.

  16. Kadi namba 16

    Swali

    Write the formula for sodium phosphide using Na⁺ and P³⁻.

    Jibu

    Na₃P. Three sodium ions balance one phosphide ion.

  17. Kadi namba 17

    Swali

    Name LiF using the usual fixed-charge ionic naming convention.

    Jibu

    Lithium fluoride. Name the lithium cation first and the fluoride anion second.

  18. Kadi namba 18

    Swali

    Write the formula for magnesium oxide using Mg²⁺ and O²⁻.

    Jibu

    MgO. The smallest neutral ratio is one magnesium ion to one oxide ion.

  19. Kadi namba 19

    Swali

    In the Stock name iron(III) chloride, what does III specify?

    Jibu

    A +3 charge on each iron ion. For this monatomic ion, its charge equals its oxidation state; III is not an atom count.

  20. Kadi namba 20

    Swali

    Name FeCl₂ using Stock nomenclature. Chloride is Cl⁻.

    Jibu

    Iron(II) chloride. Two chloride ions total −2, so the iron ion is Fe²⁺.

  21. Kadi namba 21

    Swali

    What is the charge on each copper ion in Cu₂O, taking oxide as O²⁻?

    Jibu

    +1. The two copper ions together must supply +2, so each is Cu⁺.

  22. Kadi namba 22

    Swali

    Write the formula for tin(IV) oxide, using oxide O²⁻.

    Jibu

    SnO₂. One Sn⁴⁺ ion balances two oxide ions; reduce a crossed 2:4 ratio to 1:2.

  23. Kadi namba 23

    Swali

    Name Fe₂O₃ using Stock nomenclature. Oxide is O²⁻.

    Jibu

    Iron(III) oxide. Three oxide ions total −6; divided between two iron ions, that requires Fe³⁺.

  24. Kadi namba 24

    Swali

    Write the formula for copper(II) bromide, using bromide Br⁻.

    Jibu

    CuBr₂. One Cu²⁺ ion needs two bromide ions.

  25. Kadi namba 25

    Swali

    Name SnCl₂ using Stock nomenclature. Chloride is Cl⁻.

    Jibu

    Tin(II) chloride. Two Cl⁻ ions require one Sn²⁺ ion.

  26. Kadi namba 26

    Swali

    Write the formula for iron(II) chloride, using chloride Cl⁻.

    Jibu

    FeCl₂. One Fe²⁺ ion balances two chloride ions.

  27. Kadi namba 27

    Swali

    Name CuO using Stock nomenclature. Oxide is O²⁻.

    Jibu

    Copper(II) oxide. The 1:1 ratio requires Cu²⁺ to balance O²⁻.

  28. Kadi namba 28

    Swali

    Write the formula for iron(III) sulfide, using sulfide S²⁻.

    Jibu

    Fe₂S₃. Two Fe³⁺ ions supply +6 and three sulfide ions supply −6.

  29. Kadi namba 29

    Swali

    Why is the name copper chloride insufficient to choose a single formula in introductory Stock nomenclature?

    Jibu

    It omits the copper oxidation state. Copper(I) chloride is CuCl; copper(II) chloride is CuCl₂.

  30. Kadi namba 30

    Swali

    Name SnO₂ using Stock nomenclature. Oxide is O²⁻.

    Jibu

    Tin(IV) oxide. Two oxide ions total −4, so the tin ion is Sn⁴⁺.

  31. Kadi namba 31

    Swali

    A student labels Fe₂O₃ as iron(II) oxide. Keeping the name iron(II) oxide, what formula should replace it?

    Jibu

    FeO. Fe²⁺ and O²⁻ balance in a 1:1 ratio; Fe₂O₃ instead corresponds to iron(III) oxide.

  32. Kadi namba 32

    Swali

    Name CaCl₂ using the usual introductory fixed-charge convention.

    Jibu

    Calcium chloride. Calcium is treated as Ca²⁺, so this convention omits the Roman numeral. An explicit oxidation-state name is not a different compound.

  33. Kadi namba 33

    Swali

    Write the formula for sodium nitrate using Na⁺ and NO₃⁻.

    Jibu

    NaNO₃. One nitrate ion balances one sodium ion; keep the nitrate formula intact.

  34. Kadi namba 34

    Swali

    Name K₂CO₃. The polyatomic ion CO₃²⁻ is carbonate.

    Jibu

    Potassium carbonate. Two K⁺ ions balance one carbonate ion.

  35. Kadi namba 35

    Swali

    When writing a conventional ionic formula, when do you put a polyatomic ion in parentheses?

    Jibu

    When more than one of that whole ion is needed. Put the count outside the parentheses and leave the ion’s internal subscripts unchanged.

  36. Kadi namba 36

    Swali

    Write the formula for calcium hydroxide using Ca²⁺ and OH⁻.

    Jibu

    Ca(OH)₂. Two whole hydroxide ions balance one calcium ion.

  37. Kadi namba 37

    Swali

    Name NH₄Cl. NH₄⁺ is ammonium.

    Jibu

    Ammonium chloride. The cation is the whole NH₄⁺ ion, even though it contains no metal.

  38. Kadi namba 38

    Swali

    Write the formula for aluminum sulfate using Al³⁺ and SO₄²⁻.

    Jibu

    Al₂(SO₄)₃. Two aluminum ions supply +6 and three intact sulfate ions supply −6.

  39. Kadi namba 39

    Swali

    Name Mg(NO₃)₂. NO₃⁻ is nitrate.

    Jibu

    Magnesium nitrate. One Mg²⁺ ion is balanced by two nitrate ions.

  40. Kadi namba 40

    Swali

    Write the formula for ammonium phosphate using NH₄⁺ and PO₄³⁻.

    Jibu

    (NH₄)₃PO₄. Three ammonium ions balance one phosphate ion; only ammonium needs parentheses.

  41. Kadi namba 41

    Swali

    How many whole hydroxide ions are represented in one formula unit of Ba(OH)₂?

    Jibu

    Two hydroxide ions. The outer subscript multiplies the entire OH group, giving two O atoms and two H atoms.

  42. Kadi namba 42

    Swali

    Name Fe₂(SO₄)₃ using Stock nomenclature. SO₄²⁻ is sulfate.

    Jibu

    Iron(III) sulfate. Three sulfate ions total −6, so each of the two iron ions has charge +3.

  43. Kadi namba 43

    Swali

    Write the formula for calcium nitrate using Ca²⁺ and NO₃⁻.

    Jibu

    Ca(NO₃)₂. Two intact nitrate ions supply −2 to balance calcium’s +2.

  44. Kadi namba 44

    Swali

    Name (NH₄)₂SO₄. NH₄⁺ is ammonium and SO₄²⁻ is sulfate.

    Jibu

    Ammonium sulfate. Two ammonium ions balance one sulfate ion.

  45. Kadi namba 45

    Swali

    Write the formula for magnesium phosphate using Mg²⁺ and PO₄³⁻.

    Jibu

    Mg₃(PO₄)₂. Three magnesium ions and two phosphate ions give +6 and −6.

  46. Kadi namba 46

    Swali

    Name NaHCO₃. HCO₃⁻ is hydrogen carbonate, also called bicarbonate.

    Jibu

    Sodium hydrogen carbonate, also called sodium bicarbonate. HCO₃⁻ is one intact anion.

  47. Kadi namba 47

    Swali

    Repair AlOH₃ as the formula for aluminum hydroxide, using Al³⁺ and OH⁻.

    Jibu

    Al(OH)₃. Three whole hydroxide ions are needed. AlOH₃ fails to multiply the oxygen count along with the hydrogen count.

  48. Kadi namba 48

    Swali

    Write the formula for ammonium sulfite using NH₄⁺ and SO₃²⁻.

    Jibu

    (NH₄)₂SO₃. Two ammonium ions balance one sulfite ion; sulfite retains its three oxygen atoms.

  49. Kadi namba 49

    Swali

    Name Cu(NO₃)₂ using Stock nomenclature. NO₃⁻ is nitrate.

    Jibu

    Copper(II) nitrate. Two nitrate ions total −2, requiring Cu²⁺.

  50. Kadi namba 50

    Swali

    Write the formula for iron(III) sulfate, using sulfate SO₄²⁻.

    Jibu

    Fe₂(SO₄)₃. Two Fe³⁺ ions balance three sulfate ions.

  51. Kadi namba 51

    Swali

    Repair K(CO₃)₂ as the formula for potassium carbonate, using K⁺ and CO₃²⁻.

    Jibu

    K₂CO₃. Two potassium ions balance one carbonate ion. A single carbonate group needs no parentheses.

  52. Kadi namba 52

    Swali

    Can Mg(NO₃)₂ be simplified to MgNO₃ by removing the outer subscript? Use Mg²⁺ and NO₃⁻.

    Jibu

    No. The ion ratio is already 1:2. Removing the outer 2 would leave total charge +1 instead of zero.

  53. Kadi namba 53

    Swali

    Name Ca(OH)₂. OH⁻ is hydroxide.

    Jibu

    Calcium hydroxide. The two hydroxide ions balance one Ca²⁺ ion; the ion name stays hydroxide.

  54. Kadi namba 54

    Swali

    What is the charge on each copper ion in Cu₃(PO₄)₂, taking phosphate as PO₄³⁻?

    Jibu

    +2. Two phosphate ions total −6, shared equally among three copper ions as +2 each.

  55. Kadi namba 55

    Swali

    Write the formula for sodium nitrite using Na⁺ and NO₂⁻.

    Jibu

    NaNO₂. One nitrite ion balances one sodium ion. Keep NO₂⁻ intact; NO₃⁻ would be nitrate.

  56. Kadi namba 56

    Swali

    Repair NH₄SO₄ as the formula for ammonium sulfate, using NH₄⁺ and SO₄²⁻.

    Jibu

    (NH₄)₂SO₄. Two whole ammonium ions are required to balance one sulfate ion; the 2 goes outside the ammonium parentheses.

Illustrated study cards with teal plus and coral minus signs, linked by a decorative loop to suggest charge balance.

kadi 56

Ionic Compound Naming Flashcards: Names, Formulas & Charge Balance

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