WERNER: A Card Game for Reinforcement Learning of Inorganic Chemistry Nomenclature

Identifying and naming inorganic compounds is sometimes a challenge for many first-year chemistry and engineering students; however, these difficulties can be overcome after extensive practice using homework sets based on naming inorganic compounds or applying inorganic nomenclature rules. Werner is a card game in honor of Professor Alfred Werner for his great contributions to inorganic chemistry and is intended as a didactic tool for reinforcing the learning of inorganic chemistry nomenclature. By playing the game, students practice and apply inorganic nomenclature rules. During the game, they get to identify compounds such as acids, bases, and salts as well as practice the systematic rules of the new chemical elements’ symbols and names. In the classroom, the game was used immediately after explaining the basic nomenclature rules. Overall, the students found the game engaging and enjoyable, and they responded favorably to its use as an educational didactic tool.