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CHEMICAL TESTS & IDENTIFICATION OF

GASES AND IONS

Syed Arham Ahsan, IGCSE Chemistry

Contact: 01625-109261
Methods of collecting gas :

1) Downward delivery method – The following method is used to collect

gases that are denser than air. Example – Carbon dioxide.

2) Upward delivery method – The following method is used to collect gases

that are less denser than air. Example – Hydrogen.

3) Over water – This method is used for gases that are not very soluble in
water.

Q: Suggest why ammonia gas cannot be collected over water ?

Ans :
4) Gas syringe – This method is useful when volume of collected gas needs to
be measured.

Test for Gases

1) Hydrogen – Hydrogen is a colourless,odourless gas. When a lighted splint is

held under it, it burns with a squeaky pop sound.

2𝐻2 + 𝑂2 → 2𝐻2 𝑂

Collection method – Collect over water or through upward delivery method.

2) Oxygen – Oxygen is a colourless, odourless gas. When a lighted splint is

held under it, it relights the glowing splint.

Collection method – Over water or through gas syringe.

3) Carbon dioxide – Carbon dioxide is a colourless, odourless gas. When

passed through limewater, limewater turns milky.

𝐶𝑎(𝑂𝐻)2 + 𝐶𝑂2 → 𝐶𝑎𝐶𝑂3 + 𝐻2 𝑂

Collection method – Carbon dioxide is denser than air. So, it has to be collected
through downward delivery method or over water.

4) Ammonia – It is a colourless, odourless gas. It has two types of test :

a) In the presence of hydrogen chloride (HCl) gas, dense white fumes are
formed.

𝑁𝐻3 + 𝐻𝐶𝑙 → 𝑁𝐻4 𝐶𝑙

b) It turns damp red litmus paper blue.

Collection method – Ammonia gas is less denser than air, so it is collected

through upward delivery method. It is extremely soluble in water and so cannot
be collected over water.

5) Chlorine – It is a pale, green gas. It turns damp blue litmus paper red and
then bleaches it white.

Collection method – Over water.

Note : Chlorine is a poisonous gas and must be handled in a fume cupboard.

6) Sulphur dioxide – When sulphur dioxide is passed through a solution of
potassium permanganate, the colour of the solution changes from purple to
colourless. It is a constituent of acid rain.

Chemical tests to confirm the presence of water :

1) Water turns anhydrous copper (II) sulphate from white to blue.

𝐶𝑢𝑆𝑂4 + 5𝐻2 𝑂 → 𝐶𝑢𝑆𝑂4 . 5𝐻2 𝑂

2) Water turns blue cobalt (II) chloride pink.

Physical tests to confirm the presence of water :

1) Pure water boils at 100℃ and 1 atmospheric pressure.

2) Pure water freezes at 0℃.

Identification

GASES

IONS

CATIONS ANIONS

CHEMICAL CHEMICAL
REAGENTS REAGENTS

FLAME TEST
FLAME TEST
Certain metal ions show a characteristic colour when
placed in the non-luminous part of the Bunsen burner.This test is used to
confirm the presence of these cations in a salt.

Procedure :
Dip in concentrated Dip in sample of
Take nichrome or
HCl acid solid
platinum wire

Place in non-
luminous part of Characteristic
Bunsen flame colour is seen

1) A clean nichrome or platinum wire is taken and dipped into concentrated

hydrochloric acid.

2) It is placed in a Bunsen burner and the procedure is repeated until the wire
does not give any colour to the flame.

3) The wire is then dipped into the sample of solid and placed into the non-
luminous part of the Bunsen burner. A characteristic colour will be seen.

CATIONS FLAME COLOUR

Potassium (K+) Lilac
Sodium (Na+) Golden yellow
Lithium (Li+) Carmine red
Copper (Cu2+) Bluish green
Calcium (Ca2+) Brick red
Barium (Ba2+) Apple Green
Strontium (Sr2+) Crimson red

NOTE : 1) Concentrated HCl acid is used to clean the wire and remove any ions
previously present in the wire
2) Some ions like lithium and strontium have similar flame colours, so their
presence cannot be confirmed through flame test only.

3) Mg2+ ion has no flame colour.

TEST FOR CATIONS

1) Copper (II)/ Cu2+ ion : When NaOH is added to a solution containing Cu2+
ion,a blue precipitate is formed. When excess ammonia is added, a deep blue
solution is formed. (due to the formation of tetra ammine copper (II) ion)

𝐶𝑢𝑆𝑂4 (𝑎𝑞) + 2𝑁𝑎𝑂𝐻(𝑎𝑞) → 𝐶𝑢(𝑂𝐻)2 (𝑠) + 𝑁𝑎2 𝑆𝑂4 (𝑎𝑞)

Ionic Equation :

2) Iron (II)/ Fe2+ ion : When NaOH is added to a solution containing Fe2+ ion, a
green precipitate is formed. It is insoluble in excess ammonia.

𝐹𝑒𝑆𝑂4 (𝑎𝑞) + 2𝑁𝑎𝑂𝐻(𝑎𝑞) → 𝐹𝑒(𝑂𝐻)2 (𝑠) + 𝑁𝑎2 𝑆𝑂4 (𝑎𝑞)

Ionic Equation :

Q: Upon standing in air, the green precipitate darkens to brown. Explain why.

Ans :

3) Iron (III)/ Fe3+ ion : When NaOH is added to a solution containing Fe3+ ion,
a brown precipitate is formed. It is insoluble in excess ammonia.

𝐹𝑒𝐶𝑙3 + 3𝑁𝑎𝑂𝐻(𝑎𝑞) → 𝐹𝑒(𝑂𝐻)3 (𝑠) + 3𝑁𝑎𝐶𝑙(𝑎𝑞)

Ionic Equation :

4) ) Ammonium/ 𝑵𝑯𝟒 + ion : NaOH is added to a solution containing 𝑁𝐻4 +

ion and heat is applied. Upon heating, a pungent smelling gas is formed which
turns damp red litmus paper blue.

𝑁𝐻4 𝐶𝑙(𝑠) + 𝑁𝑎𝑂𝐻 → 𝑁𝑎𝐶𝑙 + 𝐻2 𝑂 + 𝑁𝐻3

𝑁𝐻4 𝑂𝐻 ↔ 𝑁𝐻3 + 𝐻2 𝑂
5) ) Chromium (III)/ Cr3+ ion : When NaOH is added to a solution containing
Cr3+ ion, a green precipitate is formed. Upon adding ammonia solution, a grey
green precipitate is formed.

𝐶𝑟2 (𝑆𝑂4 )3 + 3𝑁𝑎𝑂𝐻(𝑎𝑞) → 2𝐶𝑟(𝑂𝐻)3 (𝑠) + 3𝑁𝑎2 𝑆𝑂4 (𝑎𝑞)

Ionic Equation :