Questions on Acids – Naming and Formulas

Understanding the naming and formulas of acids is an essential part of chemistry education, providing the foundation for topics such as chemical reactions, pH, ionic compounds, and analytical chemistry. This material is designed to help students, educators, and exam candidates strengthen their understanding of acid nomenclature and chemical formulas through targeted practice questions. As a Science Teacher and Education Specialist, I create educational resources that combine scientific knowledge with effective teaching practices.

Acids are important chemical compounds that release hydrogen ions in solution and follow specific naming rules based on their composition. Understanding acid nomenclature and chemical formulas is fundamental to general chemistry and supports the study of acid-base reactions, pH, analytical chemistry, and industrial processes. Practice questions on acids help students recognize common acids and apply standard naming conventions used in scientific and academic settings.

30 Multiple-Choice Questions: Acids – Naming and Formulas

Questions

1. What is the formula for hydrochloric acid?

A) HClO

B) HClO₄

C) HCl

D) H₂Cl

E) ClOH

2. What is the correct name for H₂SO₄?

A) Sulfurous acid

B) Sulfuric acid

C) Hydrogen sulfate

D) Sulfate acid

E) Sulfhydric acid

3. What is the name of HNO₃?

A) Nitrous acid

B) Nitric acid

C) Hydrogen nitrate

D) Nitrate acid

E) Nitrogenic acid

4. What is the formula for phosphoric acid?

A) H₃PO₂

B) H₃PO₄

C) H₂PO₄

D) H₃P

E) H₄PO₄

5. What is the correct name for H₂CO₃?

A) Carbonous acid

B) Carbonic acid

C) Carbon dioxide acid

D) Hydrogen carbonate

E) Carbonate acid

6. What is the formula for hydrobromic acid?

A) HBrO

B) H₂Br

C) HBr

D) HBrO₄

E) H₂BrO

7. What is the name of HI?

A) Hydroiodic acid

B) Iodic acid

C) Iodous acid

D) Hydrogen iodide

E) Iodine acid

8. What is the formula for acetic acid?

A) HCOOH

B) HCH₃COOH

C) CH₃COOH

D) H₂C₂O₄

E) H₂C₂H₃O₂

9. What is the name of HClO₃?

A) Hypochlorous acid

B) Chloric acid

C) Perchloric acid

D) Hydrochloric acid

E) Chlorous acid

10. What is the formula for nitrous acid?

A) HNO₄

B) HNO₂

C) HNO₃

D) H₂NO₂

E) HNO

11. What is the name of H₂S?

A) Hydrogen sulfur

B) Sulfuric acid

C) Hydrosulfuric acid

D) Sulfurous acid

E) Hydro sulfurous acid

12. What is the formula for perchloric acid?

A) HClO

B) HClO₂

C) HClO₃

D) HClO₄

E) HCl

13. What is the name of H₂SO₃?

A) Sulfurous acid

B) Sulfuric acid

C) Hydrogen sulfite

D) Sulfite acid

E) Hydrosulfurous acid

14. What is the formula for hydrofluoric acid?

A) HF

B) H₂F

C) HF₂

D) HFO

E) H₂FO

15. What is the name of HNO₂?

A) Nitrous acid

B) Nitric acid

C) Nitronium acid

D) Hydrogen nitrate

E) Nitrate acid

16. What is the formula for hypochlorous acid?

A) HClO

B) HClO₂

C) HClO₃

D) HClO₄

E) HCl

17. What is the name of H₃PO₃?

A) Phosphoric acid

B) Hypophosphorous acid

C) Phosphorous acid

D) Phosphite acid

E) Hydrogen phosphite

18. What is the formula for hydroiodic acid?

A) HI

B) HIO

C) HIO₃

D) HIO₄

E) H₂I

19. What is the name of HCN?

A) Hydrocarbonic acid

B) Hydrocyanic acid

C) Cyanic acid

D) Cyanous acid

E) Hydrogen cyanide

20. What is the formula for hydroselenic acid?

A) H₂SeO₃

B) HSe

C) H₂Se

D) HSeO₄

E) H₂SeO₂

21. What is the name of H₂CrO₄?

A) Chromic acid

B) Chromate acid

C) Hydrogen chromate

D) Chromous acid

E) Perchromic acid

22. What is the formula for chlorous acid?

A) HClO₃

B) HClO

C) HClO₂

D) HClO₄

E) HCl

23. What is the name of H₂C₂O₄?

A) Ethanoic acid

B) Formic acid

C) Oxalic acid

D) Acetic acid

E) Carbonic acid

24. What is the formula for hydrocyanic acid?

A) H₂CN

B) HCN

C) H₂C₂N₂

D) H₃CN

E) HCN₂

25. What is the name of HClO₂?

A) Hypochlorous acid

B) Chloric acid

C) Chlorous acid

D) Perchloric acid

E) Hydrochlorous acid

26. What is the formula for hydrosulfuric acid?

A) H₂S

B) H₂SO₄

C) H₂SO₃

D) HS

E) HSO₃

27. What is the name of H₂MnO₄?

A) Permanganic acid

B) Manganic acid

C) Manganous acid

D) Manganic(IV) acid

E) Manganic(VI) acid

28. What is the formula for boric acid?

A) HBO₃

B) H₃BO₃

C) H₂BO₂

D) H₂B

E) H₃B₂O₃

29. What is the name of HIO₄?

A) Iodic acid

B) Iodous acid

C) Hydroiodic acid

D) Periodic acid

E) Iodine oxide acid

30. What is the formula for arsenic acid?

A) H₃AsO₃

B) H₂AsO₃

C) H₃AsO₄

D) H₂AsO₄

E) HAsO₂

Answers with Explanations

1. C) HCl – "Hydro-" and "-ic" for binary acid with chlorine.

2. B) Sulfuric acid – H₂SO₄ is the acid form of sulfate.

3. B) Nitric acid – HNO₃ comes from nitrate ion.

4. B) H₃PO₄ – Three H⁺ for the phosphate ion.

5. B) Carbonic acid – H₂CO₃ from carbonate.

6. C) HBr – Binary acid of hydrogen and bromine.

7. A) Hydroiodic acid – Binary acid with iodine.

8. C) CH₃COOH – Common organic (carboxylic) acid.

9. B) Chloric acid – HClO₃ comes from chlorate.

10. B) HNO₂ – Nitrous acid comes from nitrite.

11. C) Hydrosulfuric acid – Binary acid of sulfur.

12. D) HClO₄ – Perchlorate ion forms perchloric acid.

13. A) Sulfurous acid – From sulfite ion.

14. A) HF – Binary acid of fluorine.

15. A) Nitrous acid – Comes from nitrite ion.

16. A) HClO – From hypochlorite ion.

17. C) Phosphorous acid – H₃PO₃ corresponds to phosphite.

18. A) HI – Binary acid of hydrogen and iodine.

19. B) Hydrocyanic acid – HCN, common weak acid.

20. C) H₂Se – Binary acid of selenium.

21. A) Chromic acid – H₂CrO₄ from chromate.

22. C) HClO₂ – Chlorous acid from chlorite ion.

23. C) Oxalic acid – H₂C₂O₄ is a dicarboxylic acid.

24. B) HCN – Correct formula for hydrocyanic acid.

25. C) Chlorous acid – HClO₂ comes from chlorite.

26. A) H₂S – Binary acid of hydrogen and sulfur.

27. A) Permanganic acid – H₂MnO₄ comes from MnO₄²⁻.

28. B) H₃BO₃ – Standard form of boric acid.

29. D) Periodic acid – HIO₄ from periodate ion.

30. C) H₃AsO₄ – Arsenic acid comes from arsenate.

Questions on Acids – Naming and Formulas

Practical Classroom Applications

• Relate Acids to Everyday Life

Discuss common acids found in foods, beverages, batteries, and cleaning products.

• Create Acid Nomenclature Tables

Organize binary acids and oxyacids with their corresponding formulas to reinforce naming patterns.

• Compare Acids and Bases

Help students identify differences between acidic and basic compounds using real-world examples.

• Practice Formula Writing

Encourage students to convert acid names into chemical formulas and vice versa.

• Investigate Industrial Applications

Explore the use of sulfuric acid, hydrochloric acid, and nitric acid in manufacturing and chemical processes.

• Introduce the pH Scale

Demonstrate how acids influence pH and explain the concept of acidity.

• Perform Indicator Experiments

Use litmus paper or universal indicators to observe acidic solutions and their properties.

• Prepare for Exams

Use the questions for classroom review, standardized tests, AP Chemistry, and introductory college chemistry courses.

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Ronaldo Silva: Professor and Specialist in Science Education from University Federal FLuminense/RJ, with over 25 years of teaching experience..

Questions on Acids – Naming and Formulas