Table of contents

Skip topic navigation

1. Intro to General Chemistry3h 48m
2. Atoms & Elements4h 16m
3. Chemical Reactions4h 10m
4. BONUS: Lab Techniques and Procedures1h 38m
5. BONUS: Mathematical Operations and Functions48m
6. Chemical Quantities & Aqueous Reactions3h 53m
7. Gases3h 49m
8. Thermochemistry2h 37m
9. Quantum Mechanics2h 58m
10. Periodic Properties of the Elements3h 9m
11. Bonding & Molecular Structure3h 29m
12. Molecular Shapes & Valence Bond Theory1h 57m
13. Liquids, Solids & Intermolecular Forces2h 23m
14. Solutions3h 1m
15. Chemical Kinetics2h 53m
16. Chemical Equilibrium2h 29m
17. Acid and Base Equilibrium5h 1m
18. Aqueous Equilibrium4h 47m
19. Chemical Thermodynamics1h 50m
20. Electrochemistry2h 42m
21. Nuclear Chemistry2h 36m
22. Organic Chemistry5h 7m
23. Chemistry of the Nonmetals2h 39m
24. Transition Metals and Coordination Compounds3h 16m

3. Chemical Reactions

Naming Ionic Compounds

General Chemistry

3. Chemical Reactions

Naming Ionic Compounds

Previous problemNext problem

Struggling with General Chemistry?

Join thousands of students who trust us to help them ace their exams!Watch the first video

Multiple Choice

Deodorants contain a compound called aluminum hydroxide. What is its chemical formula?

Al(OH)_3

AlOH

Al_2(OH)_3

Al_2O_3

Previous problemNext problem

Verified step by step guidance

Identify the ions involved: aluminum typically forms a cation with a charge of +3, written as Al^{3+}, and the hydroxide ion is OH^{-} with a charge of -1.

Determine the ratio of hydroxide ions needed to balance the +3 charge of one aluminum ion. Since each OH^{-} has a -1 charge, three hydroxide ions are needed to balance one Al^{3+} ion.

Write the chemical formula by combining one aluminum ion with three hydroxide ions, placing the hydroxide group in parentheses to indicate it is a polyatomic ion repeated three times.

The resulting formula is Al(OH)_3, which shows one aluminum ion bonded to three hydroxide ions, maintaining electrical neutrality.

Verify that the formula is electrically neutral by confirming the total positive charge (+3 from Al) balances the total negative charge (3 × -1 from OH).