Transition Metal Ion Color

Ti2+ Pale Brown

Ti3+ Purple

V2+ Purple

V3+ Green

V4+ Blue-Gray

V5+ Yellow

Cr2+ Blue-Violet

Cr3+ Green

Cr6+ Orange-Yellow

Mn2+ Pale Pink

Mn7+ Magenta

Fe2+ Olive Green

Fe3+ Yellow

Co2+ Red to Pink

Ni2+ Bright Green

Cu2+ Blue-Green
Precipitates list of 3d metals hydroxides

 Cr(OH)3 - green
 Mn(OH)2 - yellow white
 Fe(OH)2 - green
 Fe(OH)3 - brown
 Co(OH)2 - pink
 Ni(OH)2 - green
 Cu(OH)2 - blue
 Zn(OH)2 - white

Chromium hydroxide ( Cr(OH)3 ) is dissolved when excess NaOH is

added and give green colour solution. Cr(OH)3 is an amphoteric compound.
Most metal hydroxides are insoluble except alkali metals and Sr, Ba.
Magnesium, calcium, zinc, lead, aluminium ions will give white precipitates
with OH- ions.

Precipitates of sulfides of 3d metals, d block metals and

p block metal cations
Most of the 3d metal sulfide are not soluble and they have different
colours too.

 HgS(s) - black
 Sb2S3(s) - orange
 CdS(s) - yellow
 FeS(s) - black
 SnS(s) - yellow brown
 SnS2(s) - yellow
 CuS(s) - black
 NiS(s) - black
 MnS(s) - pink

Precipitates of carbonate ion, colours

Solubility of carbonates have a variation because there are soluble and
insoluble carbonates. But when we study deeply about solubility of metal
carbonates, most of the carbonates are insoluble in water.
From alkali metals, only lithium forms insoluble carbonate. Li2CO3 is a white
solid precipitate compound.
All alkaline earth metals forms insoluble carbonate. Also, all 3d metal
cations' carbonates are insoluble in water.
Now we list precipitates of carbonate ion with their colours.

 PbCO3 - white
 ZnCO3 - white
 FeCO3 – white

Precipitates of sulfate ion and colours

Most compounds of sulfate ion ( SO42- ) are soluble in water. Some
precipitates and their colours are listed below. Sulfate precipitates are not
soluble in dilute acids.
BaSO4 - barium sulfate - white
SrSO4 - strontium sulfate - white
CaSO4 precipitates in higher concentrations and it is also a white
precipitate.

Precipitates of sulfite ion | SO32-

Precipitates formed by sulfite ions are dissolved in dilute acids.

 BaSO3 - barium sulfite - white

 PbSO3 - lead sulfite – white

Phosphate ion precipitates and colours

Silver phosphate ( Ag3PO4 ) is yellow precipitate and dissolve in dilute nitric
acid and ammonia.
Barium phosphate ( Ba3(PO4)2 ), the white precipitate dissolve in HCl.
Ferric phosphate - FePO4 - yellow precipitate - dissolve in HNO3 and not
dissolve in CH3COOH.
Halide ion precipitates and colours
Chloride, bromide, iodide ions form precipitates with Ag+ and Pb2+ ions.
Chloride ion precipitates and colours

 AgCl - white
 PbCl2 - white
 Hg2Cl2 - white

bromide ion precipitates and colours

 AgBr - light yellow

 PbBr2 - white cream

precipitates and colours of iodide ion

 AgI - yellow
 PbI2 – yellow

According to the cation

Ferrous chloride and Ferric chloride
Chloride ion (anion) is common for both compounds. But their colours are
different. However, ferrous chloride and ferric chloride are soluble in water.

 Ferrous chloride (FeCl2) - colourless or green

 Ferric chloride - (FeCl3) - brown or colour