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Polyatomic Ions Trivia Quiz

Everyone needs to prepare for their chemistry exams, and one requirement is to know the most common polyatomic ions. REMEMBER: Charges on polyatomic ions are very important!

A multiple-choice quiz by rgranger01. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
rgranger01

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
231,533

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
7 / 10

Plays
8051

Last 3 plays: Guest 99 (10/10), Guest 142 (9/10), Guest 198 (10/10).

This quiz has 2 formats: you can play it as a or as shown below.
Scroll down to the bottom for the answer key.

1. Dichromates are toxic substances that are usually insoluble in water. What is the formula for this polyatomic ion? Hint

Cr (2-)

Cr2O8 (2-)

Cr2O7 (2-)

CrO4 (2-)

NEXT>

2. Hydroxide is a popular ion used in bases. What is its formula? Hint

O2H (-3)

H2O

OH (1-)

H (1+)

NEXT>

3. Perchlorate has multiple uses. Its found in matches, flares, explosives, and even nuclear reactors. So what is the formula for this polyatomic ion? Hint

ClO3 (1-)

ClO (1-)

ClO2 (1-)

ClO4 (1-)

NEXT>

4. Which of these polyatomic ions is ammonium (don't confuse it with ammonia)? Hint

NH2 (1-)

NH3

NH4 (1+)

NH (1-)

NEXT>

5. Filter tipped cigarettes are possible thanks to Acetate Products Ltd. What is the formula for the polyatomic ion, acetate? Hint

C2H3O2 (1-)

CH2O7 (2-)

CHO (1-)

C2H2O2 (2-)

NEXT>

6. Ammonium nitrate is heavily used in explosives and fertilizers. What is the formula for the polyatomic ion, nitrate? Hint

NO3 (1-)

NO (0)

NO2 (-1)

N2O (0)

7. Time to do some spring cleaning, and we have all our cleaning products in the kitchen. Sodium sulfite is one popular compound found in these cleaners. What is the formula for the polyatomic ion, sulfite? Hint

SO2 (1-)

SO4 (2-)

SO3 (2-)

SO3 (1-)

NEXT>

8. "Someone's poisoned the water hole!" Cyanide poisoning is one type of poisoning found in water. What is the formula for the polyatomic ion, cyanide? Hint

CNS (1-)

CN (1-)

CN (2-)

CNS (2-)

NEXT>

9. In 1978 an agency in Florida was created called the Florida Institute of Phosphate Research. What is the formula for the polyatomic ion, phosphate? Hint

PO4 (3-)

PO4 (2-)

PO3 (2-)

PO2 (3-)

NEXT>

10. Potassium permanganate is not something I would recommend tasting. It's said that consuming 10-20 grams of the stuff could kill a person. What is the formula for the polyatomic ion, permanganate? Hint

MnO3 (2-)

MnO4 (1-)

MnO4 (2-)

MnO3 (1-)

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Dichromates are toxic substances that are usually insoluble in water. What is the formula for this polyatomic ion?

Answer: Cr2O7 (2-)

CrO4 (2-) is chromate, not dichromate. The other two don't exist, according to my research.

2. Hydroxide is a popular ion used in bases. What is its formula?

Answer: OH (1-)

H2O isn't a polyatomic ion, but it is the popular solvent, water.
H (1+) is merely a proton. (1 proton, 0 neutrons, 0 electrons)
O2H (-3) doesn't exist. OH without charge is a hydroxyl radical.

3. Perchlorate has multiple uses. Its found in matches, flares, explosives, and even nuclear reactors. So what is the formula for this polyatomic ion?

Answer: ClO4 (1-)

ClO3 (1-) is chlorate.
ClO2 (1-) is chorite.
ClO (1-) is hypochlorite.

4. Which of these polyatomic ions is ammonium (don't confuse it with ammonia)?

Answer: NH4 (1+)

NH3 is ammonia. NH2 (1-) is amide, a highly alkaline ion. NH would have to be (2-) to be correct and would be so extremely alkaline to be unstable in nearly any environment.

5. Filter tipped cigarettes are possible thanks to Acetate Products Ltd. What is the formula for the polyatomic ion, acetate?

Answer: C2H3O2 (1-)

C2H3O2 (1-) can also be written as CH3COO (1-), but is the only one of the four to exist.

6. Ammonium nitrate is heavily used in explosives and fertilizers. What is the formula for the polyatomic ion, nitrate?

Answer: NO3 (1-)

NO2 (-1) is nitrite.
NO isn't a polyatomic ion but is called nitrogen monoxide.
N2O is also not a polyatomic ion, but is called dinitrogen monoxide.

Answer: SO3 (2-)

SO4 (2-) is Sulfate.
The other two do not exist.

8. "Someone's poisoned the water hole!" Cyanide poisoning is one type of poisoning found in water. What is the formula for the polyatomic ion, cyanide?

Answer: CN (1-)

CNS (1-) is thiocyanate.
The other two don't exist.

9. In 1978 an agency in Florida was created called the Florida Institute of Phosphate Research. What is the formula for the polyatomic ion, phosphate?

Answer: PO4 (3-)

PO2 (3-) is hypophosphite.
The other two are made up to my knowledge.

10. Potassium permanganate is not something I would recommend tasting. It's said that consuming 10-20 grams of the stuff could kill a person. What is the formula for the polyatomic ion, permanganate?

Answer: MnO4 (1-)

MnO4 (2-) is the manganate ion which has a Mn(VI) instead of the Mn(VII). The other two don't exist.

Source: Author rgranger01

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor crisw before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.

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