Abstract: A random problem generator selects a formula from a database of formulas, randomly generates an initial condition necessary to solve the selected formula, and generates a question involving the selected formula and the randomly generated initial condition. A random problem generator further randomly selects a cation from a table of cations, retrieves the cation name from the table of cations, randomly selects an anion from a table of anions, and retrieves the anion name from the table of anions. The random problem generator balances the charges of the cation and the anion and determines the subscripts for the cation and the anion. The random problem generator places the cation and anion together to form a chemical formula and the cation name and anion name together to form a chemical name. The random problem generator additionally generates either a question supplying the chemical name and asking for the chemical formula or supplying the chemical formula and asking for the chemical name.