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Practice MCAT nomenclature questions from your own study material

Upload your MCAT chemistry notes, slides or PDFs and get multiple-choice, true/false and short answer questions on naming compounds, with an explanation for every answer.

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Why drilling nomenclature pays off on the MCAT

Naming compounds is one of the most predictable parts of MCAT chemistry, but only if the rules are automatic when you see a formula. MCAT nomenclature practice questions help you check that under the same pressure you will face on exam day, instead of rereading a table of prefixes the night before.

Name ionic compounds, including Roman numerals for metals with more than one charge
Convert between IUPAC names and structures for simple alkanes and alcohols
Recognize polyatomic ions and the -ate, -ite, -ic and -ous endings for acids
Review every explanation, then redo the missed questions after a day or two

Example MCAT nomenclature practice questions

What is the IUPAC name for CH3CH2CH2CH3?Butane. Four carbons joined by single bonds take the 'but' stem with the '-ane' suffix for an alkane.

Name the ionic compound Fe2O3.Iron(III) oxide. Each oxide ion is -2, so the two iron ions must total +6, which makes each one Fe3+.

Name the acid H2SO3.Sulfurous acid. The anion sulfite (SO3 2-) ends in -ite, so its acid takes the -ous ending.

True or false: sodium chloride should be named sodium(I) chloride.False. Sodium forms only a +1 ion, so no Roman numeral is needed; Roman numerals are used for metals with more than one possible charge.

Which suffix marks an alcohol in IUPAC naming?-ol. The -OH group is named by replacing the final -e of the alkane name, as in ethanol.

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Questions from your material

Upload PDFs, DOCX files, slides, plain notes or photos of pages. The questions come from what you actually studied, not a generic bank.

Explanations for every answer

Each question includes a short explanation, so a wrong answer teaches you the naming rule it broke instead of just marking it wrong.

Spaced repetition for the rules

Missed questions come back on a schedule, which helps naming rules like Roman numerals and acid endings stick until they are automatic.

How it works

Upload your notes

Add a PDF, DOCX, PPTX, text file or photo of your chemistry notes. Photos are read with text recognition.

Choose a question type

Pick multiple choice, true/false or short answer. Naming compounds, ions and acids all work well as short answer drills.

Practice and review

Answer the questions, read the explanations and redo the ones you missed until you can name each compound without hesitating.

The most useful drills mix directions: name a compound from its formula, write a formula from its name, and identify the functional group in an organic structure. Keep a running list of the questions you miss, because the same two or three rules, such as Roman numerals for transition metals or the -ite to -ous acid pattern, usually account for most of the errors.

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Frequently asked questions

How many nomenclature practice questions should I do before the MCAT?

There is no fixed number that works for everyone. A better goal is to keep practicing until you can name most compounds in your notes without hesitating, and to mix in ions, acids and organic functional groups since the exam tests all three.

Which naming rules come up most often on the MCAT?

Expect IUPAC naming of simple alkanes and functional groups, Roman numerals for transition metal ions, and the pattern that links anion names to acid names. Practice working in both directions, from name to formula and from formula to name.

Can I export these questions?

Yes. PDF and DOCX export are included in the Plus plan at $99.90 a year or $9.99 a month, and QTI 2.1 and Moodle XML export are on the Pro plan at $14.99 a month.

Do I need a credit card to start?

No. The free plan includes 3 generations per month and lets you study in the browser, and students get 40% off with a school email.

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