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.
Mayelana naleli qoqo
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.
Amakhadi akuleli qoqo
Ikhadi 1
Umbuzo
In a neutral ionic formula unit, what must the total ionic charge be?
Impendulo
Zero. The positive and negative charges must cancel.
Ikhadi 2
Umbuzo
When naming a simple ionic compound, which ion is named first?
Impendulo
The cation, followed by the anion.
Ikhadi 3
Umbuzo
Write the formula for lithium fluoride using Li⁺ and F⁻.
Impendulo
LiF. One ion of each kind gives +1 − 1 = 0.
Ikhadi 4
Umbuzo
In CaCl₂, what does the subscript 2 count?
Impendulo
Two chloride ions for each calcium ion. It does not mean that each chloride ion has a charge of −2.
Ikhadi 5
Umbuzo
Name MgO using the usual fixed-charge ionic naming convention.
Impendulo
Magnesium oxide. The ions are Mg²⁺ and O²⁻.
Ikhadi 6
Umbuzo
What is the smallest neutral ratio of Al³⁺ ions to O²⁻ ions?
Impendulo
Two Al³⁺ ions to three O²⁻ ions: +6 and −6 cancel.
Ikhadi 7
Umbuzo
Write the formula for magnesium bromide using Mg²⁺ and Br⁻.
Impendulo
MgBr₂. Two bromide ions balance one magnesium ion.
Ikhadi 8
Umbuzo
Name Na₂S using the usual fixed-charge ionic naming convention.
Impendulo
Sodium sulfide. The sulfur anion is called sulfide.
Ikhadi 9
Umbuzo
Write the simplest formula for calcium oxide using Ca²⁺ and O²⁻.
Impendulo
CaO. Equal and opposite charges give a 1:1 ion ratio.
Ikhadi 10
Umbuzo
Write the formula for aluminum nitride using Al³⁺ and N³⁻.
Impendulo
AlN. One ion of each kind is neutral. Aluminium nitride is the same compound, with the British spelling.
Ikhadi 11
Umbuzo
Name Mg₃N₂ using the usual fixed-charge ionic naming convention.
Impendulo
Magnesium nitride. Three Mg²⁺ ions balance two N³⁻ ions.
Ikhadi 12
Umbuzo
Write the formula for lithium oxide using Li⁺ and O²⁻.
Impendulo
Li₂O. Two lithium ions balance one oxide ion.
Ikhadi 13
Umbuzo
Name CaF₂ using the usual fixed-charge ionic naming convention.
Impendulo
Calcium fluoride. This convention uses the ion names without a di- prefix for the two fluoride ions.
Ikhadi 14
Umbuzo
A student writes Mg₂O₂ for magnesium oxide, using Mg²⁺ and O²⁻. What is the simplest formula?
Impendulo
MgO. The 2:2 ion ratio is neutral but reduces to 1:1.
Ikhadi 15
Umbuzo
Name Al₂S₃ using the usual fixed-charge ionic naming convention.
Impendulo
Aluminum sulfide (also spelled aluminium sulfide). Two Al³⁺ ions balance three S²⁻ ions.
Ikhadi 16
Umbuzo
Write the formula for sodium phosphide using Na⁺ and P³⁻.
Impendulo
Na₃P. Three sodium ions balance one phosphide ion.
Ikhadi 17
Umbuzo
Name LiF using the usual fixed-charge ionic naming convention.
Impendulo
Lithium fluoride. Name the lithium cation first and the fluoride anion second.
Ikhadi 18
Umbuzo
Write the formula for magnesium oxide using Mg²⁺ and O²⁻.
Impendulo
MgO. The smallest neutral ratio is one magnesium ion to one oxide ion.
Ikhadi 19
Umbuzo
In the Stock name iron(III) chloride, what does III specify?
Impendulo
A +3 charge on each iron ion. For this monatomic ion, its charge equals its oxidation state; III is not an atom count.
Ikhadi 20
Umbuzo
Name FeCl₂ using Stock nomenclature. Chloride is Cl⁻.
Impendulo
Iron(II) chloride. Two chloride ions total −2, so the iron ion is Fe²⁺.
Ikhadi 21
Umbuzo
What is the charge on each copper ion in Cu₂O, taking oxide as O²⁻?
Impendulo
+1. The two copper ions together must supply +2, so each is Cu⁺.
Ikhadi 22
Umbuzo
Write the formula for tin(IV) oxide, using oxide O²⁻.
Impendulo
SnO₂. One Sn⁴⁺ ion balances two oxide ions; reduce a crossed 2:4 ratio to 1:2.
Ikhadi 23
Umbuzo
Name Fe₂O₃ using Stock nomenclature. Oxide is O²⁻.
Impendulo
Iron(III) oxide. Three oxide ions total −6; divided between two iron ions, that requires Fe³⁺.
Ikhadi 24
Umbuzo
Write the formula for copper(II) bromide, using bromide Br⁻.
Impendulo
CuBr₂. One Cu²⁺ ion needs two bromide ions.
Ikhadi 25
Umbuzo
Name SnCl₂ using Stock nomenclature. Chloride is Cl⁻.
Impendulo
Tin(II) chloride. Two Cl⁻ ions require one Sn²⁺ ion.
Ikhadi 26
Umbuzo
Write the formula for iron(II) chloride, using chloride Cl⁻.
Impendulo
FeCl₂. One Fe²⁺ ion balances two chloride ions.
Ikhadi 27
Umbuzo
Name CuO using Stock nomenclature. Oxide is O²⁻.
Impendulo
Copper(II) oxide. The 1:1 ratio requires Cu²⁺ to balance O²⁻.
Ikhadi 28
Umbuzo
Write the formula for iron(III) sulfide, using sulfide S²⁻.
Impendulo
Fe₂S₃. Two Fe³⁺ ions supply +6 and three sulfide ions supply −6.
Ikhadi 29
Umbuzo
Why is the name copper chloride insufficient to choose a single formula in introductory Stock nomenclature?
Impendulo
It omits the copper oxidation state. Copper(I) chloride is CuCl; copper(II) chloride is CuCl₂.
Ikhadi 30
Umbuzo
Name SnO₂ using Stock nomenclature. Oxide is O²⁻.
Impendulo
Tin(IV) oxide. Two oxide ions total −4, so the tin ion is Sn⁴⁺.
Ikhadi 31
Umbuzo
A student labels Fe₂O₃ as iron(II) oxide. Keeping the name iron(II) oxide, what formula should replace it?
Impendulo
FeO. Fe²⁺ and O²⁻ balance in a 1:1 ratio; Fe₂O₃ instead corresponds to iron(III) oxide.
Ikhadi 32
Umbuzo
Name CaCl₂ using the usual introductory fixed-charge convention.
Impendulo
Calcium chloride. Calcium is treated as Ca²⁺, so this convention omits the Roman numeral. An explicit oxidation-state name is not a different compound.
Ikhadi 33
Umbuzo
Write the formula for sodium nitrate using Na⁺ and NO₃⁻.
Impendulo
NaNO₃. One nitrate ion balances one sodium ion; keep the nitrate formula intact.
Ikhadi 34
Umbuzo
Name K₂CO₃. The polyatomic ion CO₃²⁻ is carbonate.
Impendulo
Potassium carbonate. Two K⁺ ions balance one carbonate ion.
Ikhadi 35
Umbuzo
When writing a conventional ionic formula, when do you put a polyatomic ion in parentheses?
Impendulo
When more than one of that whole ion is needed. Put the count outside the parentheses and leave the ion’s internal subscripts unchanged.
Ikhadi 36
Umbuzo
Write the formula for calcium hydroxide using Ca²⁺ and OH⁻.
Impendulo
Ca(OH)₂. Two whole hydroxide ions balance one calcium ion.
Ikhadi 37
Umbuzo
Name NH₄Cl. NH₄⁺ is ammonium.
Impendulo
Ammonium chloride. The cation is the whole NH₄⁺ ion, even though it contains no metal.
Ikhadi 38
Umbuzo
Write the formula for aluminum sulfate using Al³⁺ and SO₄²⁻.
Impendulo
Al₂(SO₄)₃. Two aluminum ions supply +6 and three intact sulfate ions supply −6.
Ikhadi 39
Umbuzo
Name Mg(NO₃)₂. NO₃⁻ is nitrate.
Impendulo
Magnesium nitrate. One Mg²⁺ ion is balanced by two nitrate ions.
Ikhadi 40
Umbuzo
Write the formula for ammonium phosphate using NH₄⁺ and PO₄³⁻.
Impendulo
(NH₄)₃PO₄. Three ammonium ions balance one phosphate ion; only ammonium needs parentheses.
Ikhadi 41
Umbuzo
How many whole hydroxide ions are represented in one formula unit of Ba(OH)₂?
Impendulo
Two hydroxide ions. The outer subscript multiplies the entire OH group, giving two O atoms and two H atoms.
Ikhadi 42
Umbuzo
Name Fe₂(SO₄)₃ using Stock nomenclature. SO₄²⁻ is sulfate.
Impendulo
Iron(III) sulfate. Three sulfate ions total −6, so each of the two iron ions has charge +3.
Ikhadi 43
Umbuzo
Write the formula for calcium nitrate using Ca²⁺ and NO₃⁻.
Impendulo
Ca(NO₃)₂. Two intact nitrate ions supply −2 to balance calcium’s +2.
Ikhadi 44
Umbuzo
Name (NH₄)₂SO₄. NH₄⁺ is ammonium and SO₄²⁻ is sulfate.
Impendulo
Ammonium sulfate. Two ammonium ions balance one sulfate ion.
Ikhadi 45
Umbuzo
Write the formula for magnesium phosphate using Mg²⁺ and PO₄³⁻.
Impendulo
Mg₃(PO₄)₂. Three magnesium ions and two phosphate ions give +6 and −6.
Ikhadi 46
Umbuzo
Name NaHCO₃. HCO₃⁻ is hydrogen carbonate, also called bicarbonate.
Impendulo
Sodium hydrogen carbonate, also called sodium bicarbonate. HCO₃⁻ is one intact anion.
Ikhadi 47
Umbuzo
Repair AlOH₃ as the formula for aluminum hydroxide, using Al³⁺ and OH⁻.
Impendulo
Al(OH)₃. Three whole hydroxide ions are needed. AlOH₃ fails to multiply the oxygen count along with the hydrogen count.
Ikhadi 48
Umbuzo
Write the formula for ammonium sulfite using NH₄⁺ and SO₃²⁻.
Impendulo
(NH₄)₂SO₃. Two ammonium ions balance one sulfite ion; sulfite retains its three oxygen atoms.
Ikhadi 49
Umbuzo
Name Cu(NO₃)₂ using Stock nomenclature. NO₃⁻ is nitrate.
Impendulo
Copper(II) nitrate. Two nitrate ions total −2, requiring Cu²⁺.
Ikhadi 50
Umbuzo
Write the formula for iron(III) sulfate, using sulfate SO₄²⁻.
Impendulo
Fe₂(SO₄)₃. Two Fe³⁺ ions balance three sulfate ions.
Ikhadi 51
Umbuzo
Repair K(CO₃)₂ as the formula for potassium carbonate, using K⁺ and CO₃²⁻.
Impendulo
K₂CO₃. Two potassium ions balance one carbonate ion. A single carbonate group needs no parentheses.
Ikhadi 52
Umbuzo
Can Mg(NO₃)₂ be simplified to MgNO₃ by removing the outer subscript? Use Mg²⁺ and NO₃⁻.
Impendulo
No. The ion ratio is already 1:2. Removing the outer 2 would leave total charge +1 instead of zero.
Ikhadi 53
Umbuzo
Name Ca(OH)₂. OH⁻ is hydroxide.
Impendulo
Calcium hydroxide. The two hydroxide ions balance one Ca²⁺ ion; the ion name stays hydroxide.
Ikhadi 54
Umbuzo
What is the charge on each copper ion in Cu₃(PO₄)₂, taking phosphate as PO₄³⁻?
Impendulo
+2. Two phosphate ions total −6, shared equally among three copper ions as +2 each.
Ikhadi 55
Umbuzo
Write the formula for sodium nitrite using Na⁺ and NO₂⁻.
Impendulo
NaNO₂. One nitrite ion balances one sodium ion. Keep NO₂⁻ intact; NO₃⁻ would be nitrate.
Ikhadi 56
Umbuzo
Repair NH₄SO₄ as the formula for ammonium sulfate, using NH₄⁺ and SO₄²⁻.
Impendulo
(NH₄)₂SO₄. Two whole ammonium ions are required to balance one sulfate ion; the 2 goes outside the ammonium parentheses.
amakhadi angu-56
Ionic Compound Naming Flashcards: Names, Formulas & Charge Balance
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