College Chemistry - Problem Drill 08: Naming Compounds
Question No. 1 of 10
Instructions: (1) Read the problem and answer choices carefully (2) Work the problems on paper as
needed (3) Pick the answer (4) Go back to review the core concept tutorial as needed.
1. FeO makes up 9% of the Earth’s mantle. Which is the correct name for FeO?
Question
(A) Iron
(B) Iron
(C) Iron
(D) Iron
(E) Iron
monoxide
oxide
(II) oxide
(III) oxide
(II) monoxide
A. Incorrect!
Prefixes aren’t used in ionic compounds.
B. Incorrect!
Iron is a multivalent metal and Roman numerals are used to indicate charge.
C. Correct!
Good job! The -2 charge of the oxide is balanced by the +2 charge of the iron
cation. The Roman numeral II indicates the iron +2 charge.
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D. Incorrect!
The -2 charge of the oxide is balanced by a +2 charge, not a +3 charge.
E. Incorrect!
Prefixes aren’t used in ionic compounds.
This is a binary ionic compound.
Iron is a multivalent metal and needs Roman numerals to indicate the charge.
O-2 is oxide.
There is 1 oxide ion, therefore there is a total negative charge of -2. Therefore
there needs to be a total positive charge of +2.
There is one iron cation. Therefore it is +2.
The correct name of FeO is iron (II) oxide.
The correct answer is (C).
Solution
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Question No. 2 of 10
Instructions: (1) Read the problem and answer choices carefully (2) Work the problems on paper as
needed (3) Pick the answer (4) Go back to review the core concept tutorial as needed.
2. H2S is a colorless weak acid but with the characteristic foul odor of rotten eggs.
Which of the following is the correct name for H2S?
Question
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)
(E)
Hydrosulfuric acid
Hydrosulfurous acid
Sulfuric acid
Sulfurous acid
Sulfur acid
A. Correct!
Good job! This is a binary acid. Apply the naming rule - “Hydro” acids end with “ic”.
B. Incorrect!
“Hydro” acids end with “ic”, not “ous”.
C. Incorrect!
Acids without oxygen are “hydro” acids.
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D. Incorrect!
Acids without oxygen are “hydro” acids.
E. Incorrect!
Acids without oxygen are “hydro__ic” acids.
This is an acid that does not contain oxygen. Use “hydro__ic acid” for this acid.
S is sulfur. The proper name for H2S is hydrosulfuric acid.
The correct answer is (A).
Solution
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Question No. 3 of 10
Instructions: (1) Read the problem and answer choices carefully (2) Work the problems on paper as
needed (3) Pick the answer (4) Go back to review the core concept tutorial as needed.
3. Cu(NO3)2 is a blue crystalline solid and its solutions are used for textiles and
polishing agents for other metals. The correct name for Cu(NO3)2 is _____.
Question
(A) Copper
(B) Copper
(C) Copper
(D) Copper
(E) Copper
nitrate
nitrite
nitride
(II) nitrate
(I) nitrite
A. Incorrect!
Copper is a multivalent metal and needs Roman numerals to indicate charge.
B. Incorrect!
Copper is a multivalent metal and needs Roman numerals to indicate charge. The
anion is nitrate, not nitrite.
C. Incorrect!
Copper is a multivalent metal and needs Roman numerals to indicate charge. Don’t
change the ending of a polyatomic ion.
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D. Correct!
Good job! The two -1 anions are balanced with a +2 charge for the cation. Copper
is a multivalent metal and needs Roman numerals to indicate charge.
E. Incorrect!
The two -1 anions are balanced with a +2 charge for the cation, not a +3 charge.
Cu is copper, which is multivalent metal and needs roman numerals to indicate the
charge.
The polyatomic anion is nitrate and there are two of them. There is a total negative
charge of -2.
There must be a total positive charge of +2 and the one copper atom carries that
total positive charge.
The correct name for Cu(NO3)2 is Copper (II) nitrate.
The correct answer is (D).
Solution
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Question No. 4 of 10
Instructions: (1) Read the problem and answer choices carefully (2) Work the problems on paper as
needed (3) Pick the answer (4) Go back to review the core concept tutorial as needed.
4. P2O5 is a potent dehydrating agent. It is corrosive. Which is the correct name for
P2O5?
Question
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)
(E)
Diphosphorous pentaoxide
Phosphorous oxide
Phosphorous pentaoxide
Phosphate
Biphosphorous pentaoxide
A. Correct!
Good job! The prefixes are used correctly. In P2O5, P2 is diphosphorous and O5 is
pentaoxide. Therefore the correct name is diphosphorous pentaoxide.
B. Incorrect!
You need to use prefixes to indicate the number of atoms in covalent molecules.
C. Incorrect!
The only time the first element’s prefix isn’t used is when it is “mono”. The prefix
for 2 in covalent compounds is “di-”.
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D. Incorrect!
This isn’t a polyatomic ion, it’s a covalent molecule.
E. Incorrect!
The prefix for 2 in covalent compounds is “di-”, not “bi-”.
Both of these elements are non-metals. This is a binary covalent compound.
Prefixes are used to indicate subscripts and “-ide” is used at the end of the second
word.
P2 is diphosphorous.
O5 is pentaoxide.
Therefore, the correct name for P2O5 is diphosphorous pentaoxide.
The correct answer is (A).
Solution
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Question No. 5 of 10
Instructions: (1) Read the problem and answer choices carefully (2) Work the problems on paper as
needed (3) Pick the answer (4) Go back to review the core concept tutorial as needed.
5. Nitric acid is a strong acid. It is highly corrosive. The correct name for HNO3 is
_____.
Question
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)
(E)
Hydronitric acid
Hydronitrous acid
Nitric acid
Nitrous acid
Hydronitrogen acid
A. Incorrect!
Acids containing oxygen don’t use “hydro-”.
B. Incorrect!
Acids containing oxygen don’t use “hydro-”.
C. Correct!
Good job! The “-ate” ion forms the “-ic” acid. Nitrate anion forms nitric acid.
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D. Incorrect!
The “-ate” ion forms “-ic” acid, not “-ous” acid.
E. Incorrect!
Acids containing oxygen don’t use “hydro-” prefix.
This is an acid that contains oxygen (oxoacid).
NO3- is nitrate anion.
The “-ate” polyatomic anions form “-ic acids”.
The correct name therefore is nitric acid, a well known acid in chemistry.
The correct answer is (C).
Solution
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Question No. 6 of 10
Instructions: (1) Read the problem and answer choices carefully (2) Work the problems on paper as
needed (3) Pick the answer (4) Go back to review the core concept tutorial as needed.
6. Mg(OH)2 is a common component of antacid and laxatives. Its mineral form is
brucite. Which of the following is the correct name for Mg(OH)2?
Question
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)
(E)
Magnesium
Magnesium
Magnesium
Magnesium
Magnesium
oxygen hydride
hydroxide
dihydroxide
dioxide
bihydroxide
A. Incorrect!
Name the anion as a polyatomic ion.
B. Correct!
Good job! The anion is “hydroxide”. Don’t use prefixes in naming ionic compounds.
C. Incorrect!
Don’t use prefixes in naming ionic compounds.
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D. Incorrect!
Don’t use prefixes in naming ionic compounds.
E. Incorrect!
Don’t use prefixes with ionic compounds. “Di” is the prefix used for “2” when
prefixes are used.
This is a polyatomic ionic compound.
Mg is magnesium and OH is hydroxide.
The correct name for Mg(OH)2 is Magnesium hydroxide.
The correct answer is (B).
Solution
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Question No. 7 of 10
Instructions: (1) Read the problem and answer choices carefully (2) Work the problems on paper as
needed (3) Pick the answer (4) Go back to review the core concept tutorial as needed.
7. HClO is a strong oxidizing agent. Its calcium salt Ca(ClO)2 is used as a bleach,
deodorant and disinfectant. Which is the correct name for HClO?
Question
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)
(E)
Hydrochloric acid
Hydrochlorous acid
Hypochloric acid
Hypochlorous acid
Chlorous acid
A. Incorrect!
“Hydro” acids don’t contain oxygen.
B. Incorrect!
“Hydro” acids don’t contain oxygen.
C. Incorrect!
The “-ite” anions become “-ous” acids.
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D. Correct!
The “-ite” anions become “-ous” acids. The prefix “hypo” means “under” in Greek.
In chemistry, “hypo” is used to indicate an element with an usually low valence.
The formal charge of Cl is +1, the lowest in all Cl-containing oxoacids.
E. Incorrect!
Don’t get rid of the “hypo” prefix on the “hypochlorite” polyatomic ion. “hypo” is
not the same as “hydro” (which isn’t used for acids containing oxygen). The prefix
“hypo” means “under” in Greek. In chemistry, “hypo” is used to in an element with
a usually low valence. The formal charge of Cl is +1, the lowest in all Cl-containing
oxoacids.
This is an acid that contains oxygen.
ClO- is hypochlorite.
The “-ite” polyatomic ions become “ous” acids.
The correct name for HClO is hypochlorous acid.
The correct answer is (D).
Solution
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Question No. 8 of 10
Instructions: (1) Read the problem and answer choices carefully (2) Work the problems on paper as
needed (3) Pick the answer (4) Go back to review the core concept tutorial as needed.
8. Fe2O3 is an oxide, also known as ferric oxide and more commonly known as
rust. It is the product of the reaction of Fe and O2. Which is the correct name for
Fe2O3?
Question
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)
(E)
Iron oxide
Iron (II) oxide
Iron (III) oxide
Diiron trioxide
Iron trioxide
A. Incorrect!
Iron is a multivalent metal (+2 and +3) and it needs Roman numerals to indicate
the charge.
B. Incorrect!
Check the charges and make sure they are all balanced out.
C. Correct!
Good job! Fe is a multivalent element. The charge on iron is +3 in this compound.
Use the Roman numeral III to indicate the +3 charge.
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D. Incorrect!
Don’t use prefixes with ionic compounds.
E. Incorrect!
Don’t use prefixes with ionic compounds.
Iron is a multivalent metal and requires Roman numerals to indicate the charge.
O-2 is oxide. There are three oxide ions, which gives a total negative charge of -6.
Therefore there must be a total positive charge of +6.
There are 2 iron ions to carry the +6 charge, so each has +3.
The correct name for Fe2O3 is iron (III) oxide.
The correct answer is (C).
Solution
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Question No. 9 of 10
Instructions: (1) Read the problem and answer choices carefully (2) Work the problems on paper as
needed (3) Pick the answer (4) Go back to review the core concept tutorial as needed.
9. CCl4 is used in the production of Freon refrigerants. Which of the following name
is for CCl4?
Question
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)
(E)
Carbon chloride
Monocarbon tetrachloride
Carbon tetrachloride
Carbonic chloride
Carbon tetrachlorine
A. Incorrect!
Apply prefixes with covalent molecules. Use “tetra-“ for the subscript 4.
B. Incorrect!
Don’t use “mono” on the first element.
C. Correct!
Good job! We don’t use “mono” on the first element, but use other prefix on the
second element. Cation is carbon and Cl- anion is chloride. Therefore carbon
tetrachloride is the correct name for CCl 4. However, its other name is
“Tetrachloromethane” in organic chemistry.
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D. Incorrect!
The first element in a covalent binary compound is named by its element name,
followed by the anion name. Carbonic is used for the naming of an oxygencontaining acid (H2CO3 – carbonic acid).
E. Incorrect!
Chlorine is its element name, not its anion name. Its anion should be chloride.
This is a covalent binary compound, made of two elements.
Its first part: Use its element name, C4+ = carbon.
Its second part: Use its anion name, Cl - = chloride and Cl4 = tetrachloride.
Therefore, its correct name is carbon tetrachloride.
The correct answer is (C).
Solution
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Question No. 10 of 10
Instructions: (1) Read the problem and answer choices carefully (2) Work the problems on paper as
needed (3) Pick the answer (4) Go back to review the core concept tutorial as needed.
10. (NH4)2SO4 is commonly used as a soil fertilizer. Which of the following name is
for (NH4)2SO4?
Question
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)
(E)
Diammonium sulfate
Ammonium sulfate
Ammonia sulfate
Ammonium sulfite
Ammonium monosulfate
A. Incorrect!
Don’t use the prefix (di-) for naming polyatomic ionic compounds.
B. Correct!
Ammonium NH4+ is the only polyatomic cation. Sulfate SO42- is the polyatomic
anion. Therefore, the correct name is ammonium sulfate, without any prefix names.
C. Incorrect!
Ammonia is a molecule (NH3), not an ion.
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D. Incorrect!
Sulfite with the “-ite” is SO32-, not SO42-.
E. Incorrect!
For polyatomic ionic compounds, do not use “mono” or any prefix in naming.
This is the only polyatomic cation, called an ammonium ion NH4+.
Sulfate SO42- is the polyatomic anion.
The correct name is ammonium sulfate.
The correct answer is (B).
Solution
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