9
Notes for use in qualitative analysis
Tests for anions
anion test test result
2−
carbonate, CO3 add dilute acid, then test for carbon effervescence, carbon dioxide
dioxide gas produced
chloride, Cl − acidify with dilute nitric acid, then white ppt.
[in solution] add aqueous silver nitrate
bromide, Br− acidify with dilute nitric acid, then cream ppt.
[in solution] add aqueous silver nitrate
iodide, I− acidify with dilute nitric acid, then yellow ppt.
[in solution] add aqueous silver nitrate
nitrate, NO3− add aqueous sodium hydroxide, ammonia produced
[in solution] then aluminium foil; warm carefully
sulfate, SO42− acidify with dilute nitric acid, then white ppt.
[in solution] add aqueous barium nitrate
sulfite, SO32− add a small volume of acidified the acidified aqueous potassium
aqueous potassium manganate(VII) manganate(VII) changes colour
from purple to colourless
Tests for aqueous cations
cation effect of aqueous sodium hydroxide effect of aqueous ammonia
3+
aluminium, Al white ppt., soluble in excess, giving white ppt., insoluble in excess
a colourless solution
ammonium, NH4+ ammonia produced on warming –
2+
calcium, Ca white ppt., insoluble in excess no ppt. or very slight white ppt.
3+
chromium(III), Cr green ppt., soluble in excess grey-green ppt., insoluble in excess
copper(II), Cu2+ light blue ppt., insoluble in excess light blue ppt., soluble in excess,
giving a dark blue solution
iron(II), Fe2+ green ppt., insoluble in excess, green ppt., insoluble in excess,
ppt. turns brown near surface on ppt. turns brown near surface on
standing standing
iron(III), Fe3+ red-brown ppt., insoluble in excess red-brown ppt., insoluble in excess
2+
zinc, Zn white ppt., soluble in excess, giving white ppt., soluble in excess, giving
a colourless solution a colourless solution
© UCLES 2020 0620/05/SP/23
10
Tests for gases
gas test and test result
ammonia, NH3 turns damp red litmus paper blue
carbon dioxide, CO2 turns limewater milky
chlorine, Cl 2 bleaches damp litmus paper
hydrogen, H2 ‘pops’ with a lighted splint
oxygen, O2 relights a glowing splint
sulfur dioxide, SO2 turns acidified aqueous potassium manganate(VII) from purple to colourless
Flame tests for metal ions
metal ion flame colour
lithium, Li+ red
sodium, Na+ yellow
potassium, K+ lilac
calcium, Ca2+ orange-red
2+
barium, Ba light green
2+
copper(II), Cu blue-green
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