Free Printable Naming Ionic Compounds Worksheets - Free Printable

Let’s solve this step by step.

We are given a chart with cations (positive ions) on the left and anions (negative ions) on top. We need to write the correct chemical formula for each ionic compound formed when they combine.

Rule: Ionic compounds must be electrically neutral — total positive charge = total negative charge.

We’ll go row by row, column by column, and figure out how many of each ion we need to balance the charges.

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Row 1: Li⁺

- With F⁻ → LiF (1+ and 1– cancel)
- With Cl⁻ → LiCl
- With O²⁻ → Need two Li⁺ to balance one O²⁻ → Li₂O
- With S²⁻ → Already given: Li₂S
- With N³⁻ → Need three Li⁺ to balance one N³⁻ → Li₃N
- With P³⁻ → Same as above → Li₃P

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Row 2: Na⁺

Same pattern as Li⁺ since both are +1.

- F⁻ → NaF
- Cl⁻ → NaCl
- O²⁻ → Na₂O
- S²⁻ → Na₂S
- N³⁻ → Na₃N
- P³⁻ → Na₃P

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Row 3: K⁺

Also +1, same as Na⁺ and Li⁺.

- F⁻ → KF
- Cl⁻ → Already given: KCl
- O²⁻ → K₂O
- S²⁻ → K₂S
- N³⁻ → K₃N
- P³⁻ → K₃P

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Row 4: Be²⁺

Charge is +2.

- F⁻ → Need two F⁻ to balance one Be²⁺ → BeF₂
- Cl⁻ → BeCl₂
- O²⁻ → BeO (2+ and 2– cancel)
- S²⁻ → BeS
- N³⁻ → Need to find least common multiple of 2 and 3 → 6. So 3 Be²⁺ (+6) and 2 N³⁻ (-6) → Be₃N₂
- P³⁻ → Given: Be₃P₂ (same logic: 3×2+ = 6+, 2×3– = 6–)

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Row 5: Mg²⁺

Same as Be²⁺ — also +2.

- F⁻ → MgF₂
- Cl⁻ → MgCl₂
- O²⁻ → MgO
- S²⁻ → MgS
- N³⁻ → MgN₂
- P³ → Mg₃P₂

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Row 6: Ca²⁺

Also +2.

- F⁻ → CaF₂
- Cl⁻ → CaCl₂
- O²⁻ → Already given: CaO
- S²⁻ → CaS
- N³⁻ → Ca₃N₂
- P³⁻ → Ca₃P₂

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Row 7: Al³⁺

Charge is +3.

- F⁻ → Need three F⁻ to balance one Al³⁺ → AlF₃
- Cl⁻ → AlCl₃
- O²⁻ → LCM of 3 and 2 is 6 → 2 Al³⁺ (+6) and 3 O²⁻ (-6) → Al₂O₃
- S²⁻ → Same → Al₂S₃
- N³⁻ → Already given: AlN (3+ and 3– cancel)
- P³⁻ → AlP (same reason)

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Row 8: Ga³⁺

Same as Al³⁺ — +3.

- F⁻ → GaF₃
- Cl⁻ → GaCl₃
- O²⁻ → Ga₂O₃
- S²⁻ → Ga₂S₃
- N³⁻ → GaN
- P³⁻ → GaP

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Row 9: B³⁺

Boron can form B³⁺ in some contexts (though it's more covalent usually, but for this worksheet, treat it like Al³⁺).

So same as Al³⁺ and Ga³⁺:

- F⁻ → BF₃
- Cl⁻ → BCl₃
- O²⁻ → B₂O₃
- S²⁻ → B₂S₃
- N³⁻ → BN
- P³⁻ → BP

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Now let’s fill in the entire table based on our reasoning.

Final Answer:

| | F⁻ | Cl⁻ | O²⁻ | S²⁻ | N³⁻ | P³⁻ |
|-------|--------|--------|--------|--------|--------|--------|
| Li⁺ | LiF | LiCl | Li₂O | Li₂S | Li₃N | Li₃P |
| Na⁺ | NaF | NaCl | Na₂O | Na₂S | Na₃N | Na₃P |
| K⁺ | KF | KCl | K₂O | K₂S | K₃N | K₃P |
| Be²⁺ | BeF₂ | BeCl₂ | BeO | BeS | Be₃N₂ | Be₃P₂ |
| Mg²⁺ | MgF₂ | MgCl₂ | MgO | MgS | Mg₃N₂ | Mg₃P₂ |
| Ca²⁺ | CaF₂ | CaCl₂ | CaO | CaS | Ca₃N₂ | Ca₃P₂ |
| Al³⁺ | AlF₃ | AlCl₃ | Al₂O₃ | Al₂S₃ | AlN | AlP |
| Ga³⁺ | GaF₃ | GaCl₃ | Ga₂O₃ | Ga₂S₃ | GaN | GaP |
| B³⁺ | BF₃ | BCl₃ | B₂O₃ | B₂S₃ | BN | BP |