Questions on Bases – Naming and Formulas

As a Science Teacher and Education Specialist, I develop educational resources designed to promote meaningful learning in chemistry. Understanding bases, their naming rules, and chemical formulas is essential for studying chemical reactions, properties of matter, and practical applications in science and industry. This material has been created to support students, educators, and exam candidates through exercises that strengthen knowledge of inorganic compounds and chemical nomenclature.

Bases are compounds that release hydroxide ions (OH⁻) in solution and follow specific naming conventions in chemistry. Learning how to write formulas and correctly name bases is a fundamental skill in general chemistry and provides a foundation for more advanced topics such as analytical chemistry, industrial chemistry, and chemical engineering. Practice questions on bases help students recognize important compounds and apply internationally accepted nomenclature rules.

30 Multiple-Choice Questions: Bases – Naming and Formulas

Questions

1. What is the formula for sodium hydroxide?

A) NaOH

B) NaH

C) Na₂O

D) Na₂OH

E) NaO

2. What is the name of KOH?

A) Potassium hydride

B) Potassium oxide

C) Potassium hydroxide

D) Kalium hydroxide

E) Potass hydroxide

3. What is the formula for calcium hydroxide?

A) CaOH

B) Ca(OH)

C) Ca₂OH

D) Ca(OH)₂

E) CaH₂O

4. What is the name of Ba(OH)₂?

A) Barium hydroxide

B) Barium oxide

C) Barium dihydroxide

D) Barium hydroxo

E) Barium hydrate

5. What is the formula for ammonium hydroxide?

A) NH₄OH

B) NH₃OH

C) NH₄(OH)₂

D) NH₃·H₂O

E) NH₂OH

6. What is the name of LiOH?

A) Lithium hydride

B) Lithium oxide

C) Lithium hydroxide

D) Lithium peroxide

E) Lithium hydroxo

7. What is the formula for aluminum hydroxide?

A) AlOH

B) Al(OH)₂

C) Al(OH)₃

D) Al₂(OH)₃

E) Al₃OH

8. What is the name of Mg(OH)₂?

A) Magnesium hydrogen oxide

B) Magnesium hydroxide

C) Magnesium dihydroxide

D) Magnesium oxide

E) Magnesium peroxide

9. What is the formula for iron(III) hydroxide?

A) FeOH

B) Fe(OH)₃

C) Fe₃(OH)₂

D) Fe₂(OH)₃

E) Fe₃OH

10. What is the name of Sr(OH)₂?

A) Strontium hydroxide

B) Strontium oxide

C) Strontium hydride

D) Strontium dihydroxide

E) Strong hydroxide

11. What is the formula for zinc hydroxide?

A) ZnOH

B) Zn(OH)₂

C) Zn₂OH

D) Zn(OH)₃

E) Zn₂(OH)₃

12. What is the name of Cu(OH)₂?

A) Copper(I) hydroxide

B) Copper(II) hydroxide

C) Copper oxide

D) Cuprous hydroxide

E) Copper hydroxylate

13. What is the formula for iron(II) hydroxide?

A) Fe(OH)₂

B) FeOH

C) Fe₂OH

D) Fe(OH)₃

E) Fe₂(OH)₃

14. What is the name of NH₄OH?

A) Ammonia

B) Ammonium hydrogen oxide

C) Ammonium hydroxide

D) Amine water

E) Nitrogen hydroxide

15. What is the formula for nickel(II) hydroxide?

A) NiOH

B) Ni(OH)₂

C) Ni₂OH

D) Ni₂(OH)₂

E) Ni(OH)₃

16. What is the name of NaOH?

A) Sodium oxide

B) Sodium peroxide

C) Sodium hydroxide

D) Sodium dihydroxide

E) Sodium hydride

17. What is the formula for chromium(III) hydroxide?

A) Cr(OH)₂

B) Cr₃OH

C) CrOH

D) Cr(OH)₃

E) Cr₂(OH)₃

18. What is the name of Be(OH)₂?

A) Beryllium oxide

B) Beryllium dihydroxide

C) Beryllium hydroxide

D) Beryllium hydrogen oxide

E) Beryllium hydride

19. What is the formula for lead(II) hydroxide?

A) PbOH

B) Pb(OH)₃

C) Pb₂OH

D) Pb(OH)₂

E) Pb₂(OH)₃

20. What is the name of Sn(OH)₂?

A) Tin hydroxide

B) Tin(IV) hydroxide

C) Tin(II) hydroxide

D) Stannic hydroxide

E) Tin oxide

21. What is the formula for cadmium hydroxide?

A) CdOH

B) Cd(OH)

C) Cd(OH)₂

D) Cd₂OH

E) Cd(OH)₃

22. What is the name of Mn(OH)₂?

A) Manganese hydroxide

B) Manganese(IV) hydroxide

C) Manganese(II) hydroxide

D) Manganic hydroxide

E) Mangano hydroxide

23. What is the formula for silver hydroxide?

A) AgOH

B) Ag(OH)₂

C) Ag₂OH

D) Ag₂(OH)₂

E) Ag(OH)

24. What is the name of CsOH?

A) Cesium peroxide

B) Cesium oxide

C) Cesium hydroxide

D) Cesium hydride

E) Cesium hydroxyde

25. What is the formula for rubidium hydroxide?

A) Rb(OH)₂

B) Rb₂OH

C) RbOH

D) RbH

E) Rb₂O

26. What is the name of Cr(OH)₃?

A) Chromium(I) hydroxide

B) Chromium(III) hydroxide

C) Chromous hydroxide

D) Chromium oxide

E) Chromium(II) hydroxide

27. What is the formula for tin(IV) hydroxide?

A) Sn(OH)₂

B) Sn(OH)₄

C) SnOH

D) Sn₄OH

E) SnO₂(OH)₂

28. What is the name of Pb(OH)₄?

A) Lead(IV) hydroxide

B) Lead(II) hydroxide

C) Plumbic hydroxide

D) Lead oxide

E) Lead tetrahydroxide

29. What is the formula for bismuth(III) hydroxide?

A) BiOH

B) Bi(OH)₂

C) Bi(OH)₃

D) Bi₂OH

E) Bi₃(OH)

30. What is the name of Al(OH)₃?

A) Aluminum dihydroxide

B) Aluminum oxide

C) Aluminum hydroxide

D) Trihydroxyaluminum

E) Aluminic hydroxide

Answers and Explanations

1. A) NaOH – Sodium hydroxide is a strong base with formula NaOH.

2. C) Potassium hydroxide – KOH is a strong base.

3. D) Ca(OH)₂ – Calcium forms a +2 ion, needs two hydroxide ions.

4. A) Barium hydroxide – Ba²⁺ and two OH⁻ ions.

5. A) NH₄OH – Ammonium hydroxide is NH₄⁺ + OH⁻.

6. C) Lithium hydroxide – Li⁺ and OH⁻.

7. C) Al(OH)₃ – Al³⁺ needs three OH⁻ ions.

8. B) Magnesium hydroxide – Mg²⁺ + 2 OH⁻.

9. B) Fe(OH)₃ – Fe³⁺ (iron(III)) needs three OH⁻.

10. A) Strontium hydroxide – Sr²⁺ + 2 OH⁻.

11. B) Zn(OH)₂ – Zinc forms +2 ions.

12. B) Copper(II) hydroxide – Cu²⁺ + 2 OH⁻.

13. A) Fe(OH)₂ – Fe²⁺ (iron(II)) + 2 OH⁻.

14. C) Ammonium hydroxide – NH₄⁺ and OH⁻.

15. B) Ni(OH)₂ – Nickel(II) = Ni²⁺ + 2 OH⁻.

16. C) Sodium hydroxide – Na⁺ and OH⁻.

17. D) Cr(OH)₃ – Chromium(III) needs three OH⁻.

18. C) Beryllium hydroxide – Be²⁺ + 2 OH⁻.

19. D) Pb(OH)₂ – Lead(II) = Pb²⁺ + 2 OH⁻.

20. C) Tin(II) hydroxide – Sn²⁺ + 2 OH⁻.

21. C) Cd(OH)₂ – Cadmium forms +2 ions.

22. C) Manganese(II) hydroxide – Mn²⁺ + 2 OH⁻.

23. A) AgOH – Silver typically forms Ag⁺.

24. C) Cesium hydroxide – Cs⁺ + OH⁻.

25. C) RbOH – Rubidium forms +1 ion.

26. B) Chromium(III) hydroxide – Cr³⁺ + 3 OH⁻.

27. B) Sn(OH)₄ – Tin(IV) = Sn⁴⁺ + 4 OH⁻.

28. A) Lead(IV) hydroxide – Pb⁴⁺ + 4 OH⁻.

29. C) Bi(OH)₃ – Bismuth(III) = Bi³⁺ + 3 OH⁻.

30. C) Aluminum hydroxide – Al³⁺ + 3 OH⁻.

Questions on Bases – Naming and Formulas

Practical Classroom Applications

• Connect Chemistry to Everyday Products

Relate compounds such as sodium hydroxide and magnesium hydroxide to cleaning products, antacids, and other common materials.

• Create Chemical Nomenclature Charts

Have students organize common bases and their formulas to reinforce the relationship between cations and hydroxide ions.

• Practice Compound Classification

Compare bases with acids, salts, and oxides using real-world examples.

• Formula-Writing Activities

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

• Explore Industrial Applications

Discuss the role of bases in soap manufacturing, paper production, fertilizers, and water treatment.

• Introduce the pH Scale

Explain how bases contribute to alkalinity and how pH is measured.

• Conduct Laboratory Demonstrations

Use acid-base indicators to observe color changes and identify basic solutions.

• Support Exam Preparation

Use the questions for review sessions in middle school, high school, 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 Bases – Naming and Formulas