Qualitative Chemical Analysis

Section 9.1b
Qualitative vs. Quantitative Analysis

Qualitative Analysis: Quantitative Analysis:

● Identifying the species ● Measuring the quantity of
present by observations the species present
Qualitative Analysis by Colour
To identity chemicals we analyze the colour of:

1. Solutions
2. Flames
Determining Ions From Solution Colour
● When in solution, many ions have
characteristic colours
● Example: MnO4 is purple when in
solution
Determining Ions From Flame Colour
● We can identify the ion that is
present by colour of the flame it
produces
● Solution or solid is usually burned
using a Bunsen burner
Sequential Qualitative Chemical Analysis
● Test for ions in aqueous solutions
● Use precipitation reactions to find out what ions are present
● If the precipitate forms, the ion must be present in the unknown solution

Example: A solution contains Pb2+ ions &/or Sr2+ ions, what tests can we use that will
separate the ions?
Sequential Qualitative Chemical Analysis
Example: A solution contains Pb2+ ions &/or Sr2+ ions, what tests can we use that will
separate the ions?

Let’s deal with the Pb2+ ions first:

● What ions will precipitate Pb but NOT Sr? Look at your Solubility Chart!
● Chlorine!
Sequential Qualitative Chemical Analysis
Example: A solution contains Pb2+ ions &/or Sr2+ ions, what tests can we use that will
separate the ions?

Let’s deal with the Pb2+ ions first:

A precipitate is formed!
Therefore there are Pb2+ ions!
Sequential Qualitative Chemical Analysis
Example: A solution contains Pb2+ ions &/or Sr2+ ions, what tests can we use that will
separate the ions?

Now we’ve filtered out the Pb2+ ions, we can look to see if there are Sr2+ions present:
● What ions will precipitate Sr? Look at your Solubility Chart!
● Sulfate!
Sequential Qualitative Chemical Analysis
Example: A solution contains Pb2+ ions &/or Sr2+ ions, what tests can we use that will
separate the ions?

Now we can look at the Sr2+ ions:

A precipitate is formed!
Therefore there are Sr2+ ions!
Sequential Chemical Analysis Flow Chart
Pb2+ ions &/or Sr2+

+ NaCl (aq)

Precipitate formed No precipitate

PbCl2(s) no Pb2+

Filter
Sequential Chemical Analysis Flow Chart
Sr2+

+ Na2SO4 (aq)

Precipitate formed No precipitate

SrSO4(s) no Sr2+

Filter
General Rules for a Sequential Chemical Analysis
1. Find the cations on the solubility rules
2. Think of anions that will precipitate the cations
3. Plan a sequence of precipitation reaction that uses the anions to precipitate out
ONE cation at a time
4. Draw a flowchart of sequence