Chemistry Gears app for iPhone and iPad

Professor designed and classroom tested, this app turns learning the names of chemical compounds into a fun game. Over 900 compounds can be reviewed and quizzed on from the 29 available cations and 33 available monatomic anions and polyatomics.

In review mode you are presented with a gear of cations and a gear of anions. As you spin and engage the gears the name of the resulting compound is displayed above the gearbox. Inner wheels display the ratio of cations to anions. For instance when Pb^4+ and ClO2^-1 are engaged, the inner wheel displays the ratio of 1 to 4 indicating the formula Pb(ClO2)4. The name lead(IV) chlorite is displayed in the bar above the gearbox. You may move the gears to display any combination of cation and anion, or hit the random button to display a whole new set of anions and cations to review their names.

In quiz mode you are presented with engaged gears and asked to complete the ratio of cation to anion and its correctly spelled name. For instance, when Ca^2+ and ClO4^-1 are engaged you would have to move the inner wheels to indicate the 1 to 2 ratio in the formula Ca(ClO4)2. When that is correct the Correct Balance indicator turns green. Once the correctly spelled name calcium perchlorate is entered into the bar the Correct Compound indicator turns green. If you are unsure of any of these answers choose "Give Up" from the keyboard and the gearbox will display the correct answers and indicator light turn yellow.

This is a great app for learning nomenclature inside and outside the classroom.