Grocery Store Nomenclature Activity
Chemicals are not just for Chemistry class. This lab activity will help you to identify and name
chemicals that you can find all around you.
Helpful Information:
The number of protons in an atom is determined by the atomic number of the element.
An ion is an electrically charged particle which is formed by gaining or losing electrons. Since electrons
are negatively charged and protons have a positive charge, if an atom gains electrons an anion is formed
with a negative charge. If an atom loses electrons, a cation is formed with a positive charge.
Procedure:
1. This is an in and out of class laboratory assignment.
2. There are 24 clues.
3. Each clue will lead you to one chemical compound.
a. you may use resources as long as you list them in your report.
b. you can find these items at home, at a grocery store or drugstore.
4. Using the list of clues in this lab sheet, discover the names of and then write the formulas for
the compounds indicated by the clues.
Assignment Write up:
For this assignment you will make a data table which will include the name and formula of each of the
chemicals designated by the clues provided. Your data table should be in a chart listing the name of the
compound, the formula of the compound, the name of the product that you found the compound in and
the clue that you used (either type out the clue or include the number of the clue).
Then answer the following questions in you report.
1. How do you name an ionic compound with a cation that has more than one common charge?
2. Name three polyatomic ions.
3. What is a hydrate?
4. When do you use numeric prefixes in naming compounds?
5. What was the most difficult part of this lab?
Clue
1
2
3
4
Products containing
this chemical
Vinegar
Bread
A carbon containing acid
An ionic compound containing 4 ions per formula unit. The cation is
a polyatomic.
An ionic compound with a polyatomic cation and anion. The atoms
Fertilizer, yeast nutrient
from the anion are all from the same group.
An ionic compound containing two ions per formula unit. The cation Antacid, pet food
has 18 electrons and 20 protons. The polyatomic ion contains carbon
and has a charge of -2.
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
Both the cation and anion each have 18 electrons, but different
number of protons. The cation’s positive charge is twice as big as
the charge of the anion.
An ionic compound that contains five ions per formula unit. The
cation has 18 electrons.
An ionic compound containing two ions per formula unit. The cation
has 18 electrons. The -2 charged, polyatomic anion contains 5 atoms
one of which is sulfur.
An ionic compound containing two ions per formula unit. The cation
contains 27 electrons. The -2 charged, polyatomic anion contains 5
atoms, one of which is sulfur.
The anion is polyatomic, but consists of just one type of atom. The
cations have no electrons.
An ionic compound containing two ions per formula unit. The cation
contains 24 electrons. The -2 charged, polyatomic anion contains 5
atoms one of which is sulfur.
An ionic compound containing two ions per formula unit. The cation
has 10 electrons The polyatomic ion is -2 charged and contains 5
atoms one of which is sulfur.
An ionic compound containing two ions per formula unit. The cation
contains 23 electrons. The -2 charged, polyatomic anion contains 5
atoms one of which is sulfur.
An acid with three hydrogens at the beginning of the formula.
The one cation and one anion each have 18 electrons.
An ionic compound with 2 ions per formula unit. The anion has 3
times as many electrons as the cation.
A molecular compound containing three atoms per molecule. The
total number of protons is 30. Remember no ions in this one.
The polyatomic ion contains elements 1, 6 and 8. The cation has 10
electrons.
The anion has 5 atoms and has a common name different from its
systematic name. Check your reference page. The cation ion has 10
electrons.
There are two ions per formula unit in this compound. The -1 anion
has 8 more electrons than the cation.
A binary ionic compound in which the anion and cation both have
10 electrons.
An ionic compound with a cation consisting of 10 electrons and a
polyatomic ion with 26 electrons.
An ionic compound that contains 3 times as many cations as anions.
The cation has 10 electrons and the anion is polyatomic.
A molecular compound containing three atoms per molecule. The
total number of protons is 32.
An ionic compound containing 2 ions per formula unit. The cation
contains 28 electrons. The atoms in the polyatomic ion are in the
same group on the periodic table.
Pickled products, olives
Yogurt
Bread
Pet food
Antiseptic, hair color
lightener
Pet food, plant nutrient,
spaghetti
Laxative, soaking agent
Pet food
Soft drinks
Soup
Iodized table salt
Bouillon cubes
Croutons, salty snacks
Cookies
Table salt, salted snacks
Toothpaste
Bleach
Cleaning products,
yogurt
Fig Newtons
Pet food