We'll Give You The Chemical Formula, You Give Us Its Name!

By: Jouviane Alexandre
Estimated Completion Time
2 min
We'll Give You The Chemical Formula, You Give Us Its Name!
Image: Shutterstock

About This Quiz

Give me some H2O! According to Khan Academy, "Chemistry is the study of matter, and all matter is made up of atoms." And you'll find atoms in everything. In the world of chemistry, it's hard to find something that doesn't have a chemical formula, from just one letter to a whole jumble of them.

In your chemistry class, you probably spent a lot of time learning about chemical formulas. From the 118 elements that are known to mankind, many of them can be added together and in different varieties. While the difference between carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide is just one oxygen atom in the equation, the difference in real life is deadly - though thankfully for us, not all chemical formulas are that dangerous!

From something as simple as water to nail polish remover, can you give us the names of these chemical formulas? Adding two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atoms is one chemical formula that everyone needs to survive! Your food might be a little bland, but you could solve it with the combination of sodium (Na) and chlorine (Cl). If you want to take off your nail polish, you might need some C3H6O.

When you think about the things you use daily, there's a chemical for almost anything. From caffeine to aspirin to baking soda, let's find out if you're passing chemistry!

Na + Cl
Ethanol
Benzene
Salt
In the chemical world, we'd refer to NaCl as sodium chloride, but in the everyday world, it's regular table salt. You'll find it everywhere from the shaker on the table to the water at the beach.
Cholesterol
H2 + O
Ethanol
Benzene
Gold Sulfide
Water
Come on! If you don't know H2O, what have you been drinking your entire life? Possibly the most used chemical compound, water makes up most of the Earth as well as most living organisms.
C + O2
Vinegar
Carbon Dioxide
When we're breathing, our bodies take the oxygen from the air and move it through the body. When we breathe out, the lungs are expelling the carbon dioxide from our bodies.
Methane
Methanol

Advertisement

C + O
Phosphoric Acid
Ethane
Carbon Monoxide
Carbon monoxide isn't called the silent killer for no reason. This gas is both colorless and odorless and often comes from the exhaust of cars.
Oxygen gas
H2 + O2
Hydrochloric Acid
Hydrogen Peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide is a very caustic compound. You'll find it in some household products like disinfectants and bleaches.
Sodium Hydroxide
Water
Ag + I
Octane
Ammonia
Silver Iodide
Silver Iodide isn't often found in the everyday world. While it can be used for a specific kind of photography, you might also see it being used as an antiseptic.
Sodium Cyanide

Advertisement

K + O + H
Carbon Dioxide
Caffeine
Hydrobromic Acid
Potassium Hydroxide
Potassium hydroxide is a powerful base that has a high reactivity with acids. As daunting as that sounds, KOH is a big step in creating liquid soap.
N + H3
Ammonia
Ammonia is found in many things, but you might be more used to the chemical when it comes to household cleaning products. You can also find this chemical used in creating plastics and dyes.
Hydrogen Sulfide
Acetic Acid
Sulfuric Acid
C6 + H8 + O7
Citric Acid
If you scrunch up your face when you eat a lemon, you can thank citric acid for that. This compound is naturally produced in citrus fruits like lemons, limes, and oranges.
Copper Sulfate
Methane
Sulfurous Acid

Advertisement

H2 + S
Gold Trioxide
Hydrogen Peroxide
Acetone
Hydrogen Sulfide
Hydrogen sulfide is one chemical compound you definitely want to stay away from. An irritant to the body, it can be found in sewage sludge and some natural gases.
C27 + H46 + O
Lactic Acid
Cholesterol
Cholesterol can be classified as a steroid or a lipid. Essential to cell structure, cholesterol also plays a role in steroid hormones and some vitamins.
Ammonium Sulfate
Galactose
C3 + H6 + O
Silver Oxide
Acetone
Acetone has many uses but one of it's most common household uses might be in your nail polish remover. Acetone can also be used in skin products, but a major warning that this compound is extremely flammable.
Arsenic Trioxide
Citric Acid

Advertisement

C3 + H6 + O3
Carbonic Acid
Lactic Acid
While the acid might have you looking twice, lactic acid is used for many things. Not only is it found in many milk products like yogurt and cottage cheese, but you might even find it in your beer and detergent.
Ascorbic Acid
Vinegar
P + O4
Copper Chloride
Bromine
Salt
Phosphate
While phosphate might seem like it's only relevance is in the world of chemistry, it plays a major role in the functions of our metabolism and energy.
Na + H + C + O3
Camphor
Baking Soda
Baking Soda is often referred to by its chemical name, sodium bicarbonate. Having many uses, it can be used in cooking, pest control, and can even relieve some allergic reactions.
Glucose
Alcohol

Advertisement

H + N + O3
Nitric Acid
Nitric acid is definitely something you should stay away from on a day to day basic. A very strong acid, it can cause critical burns.
Sodium Hypochlorite
Pentane
Sodium Nitrate
C12 + H22 + O11
Sucrose
Sucrose is a natural sugar that is found in some plants and fruits. Sucrose is also the sugar you'll find in all the delicious but not-nutritious snacks, such as cookies and ice cream.
Methanol
Iodic Acid
Nitrate
C + H4
Calcium Cyanide
Calcium Oxide
Methane
While methane isn't something that you'd find in everyday life, it sits at the center of making organic chemicals.
Benzoic Acid

Advertisement

O + O
Oxygen gas
An important component to the air we breathe, oxygen gas might be the most commonly understood chemical compound.
Gold Sulfide
Baking Soda
Sucrose
C8 + H10 + N4 + O2
Aspirin
Propane
Caffeine
While many just need caffeine for the feeling it gives us, chemically, caffeine is a stimulant that works on the central nervous system. It also helps block other molecules that would start fatigue in the body.
Sulfate
Ca + C + O3
Ammonium Sulfate
Calcium Carbonate
While calcium carbonate serves many purposes in a lab, it can often be found in the form of an antacid.
Silver Oxide
Ascorbic Acid

Advertisement

C9 + H8 + O4
Pentane
Peroxide
Aspirin
While a chemist might refer to it as acetylsalicylic acid, your pharmacist might tell you to take an aspirin. Often taken for pain, it is even said to help prevent heart attacks.
Calcium Cyanide
Na + N + O3
Sodium Nitrate
Sodium nitrate might seem to have more chemical uses than everyday uses, but you can find it in fertilizers as well as food preservatives.
Cholesterol
Copper Chloride
Sulfate
Na + O + H
Sodium Cyanide
Sodium Hydroxide
While chemists might use the words sodium hydroxide, you might be used to the word lye. Sodium hydroxide is used in making soap, paper, and explosives.
Hydrobromic Acid
Propane

Advertisement

H3 + P + O4
Phosphoric Acid
Phosphoric acid might have no use for you in your everyday life, but this acid is commonly used in fertilizers, toothpastes, and in detergent.
Sulfurous Acid
Lactic Acid
Baking Soda
H + Cl
Ethane
Gold Trioxide
Water
Hydrochloric Acid
A highly corrosive acid, HCl has many uses. Some of them include battery and firework production. One of our stomach acids, it is also used in digestion.
C8 + H18
Octane
Octane is extremely reactive and flammable. While hearing the word octane might draw a blank, it is a major part of gasoline.
Camphor
Carbon Dioxide
Aspirin

Advertisement

C6 + H12 + O2
Glucose
While glucose may or may not be a term you're familiar with, it is often referred to as blood sugar. The body will take the glucose we consume and turn it into energy.
Nitrate
Sulfuric Acid
Acetic Acid
C2 + H6 + O
Glucose
Hydrogen Sulfide
Alcohol
Alcohol is found in many forms, but this is it's most common. Highly flammable and with differing levels of toxicity, alcohol can be used medically, and it is often imbibed.
Ammonia
Ca + O
Calcium Oxide
While calcium oxide has few day to day uses, it is used in making cement and plaster.
Arsenic Trioxide
Citric Acid
Oxygen gas

Advertisement

C2 + H4 + O2
Acetone
Phosphoric Acid
Calcium Oxide
Vinegar
Vinegar is often used interchangeably with acetic acid. While it has many major chemical uses, it can often be used medically as well as with food in the form of vinegar.
C + N
Carbonic Acid
Sodium Hypochlorite
Cyanide
Cyanide is known for being a highly toxic compound often used in pest control. It is highly poisonous for humans.
Galactose
C3 + H8
Propane
Propane is one compound for which you'll find everyday uses. If your house uses water heating, you're most likely using propane. Propane is also the commonly used gas for cooking.
Octane
Salt
Caffeine

Advertisement

C6 + H6
Benzene
While benzene plays a huge role in the organic chemistry world, it plays a big one in yours as well. The base of many other chemical components, it's found in many things, from plastic to detergent.
Copper Sulfate
Carbon Monoxide
Iodic Acid
H2 + S + O4
Benzoic Acid
Sodium Nitrate
Hydrochloric Acid
Sulfuric Acid
Sulfuric acid is highly acidic and can be found in many things. From drain cleaners to household products, it's largely found in fertilizers.
You Got:
/35
Shutterstock