Test for Gases

Gas Test and Test Results

Ammonia
turns damp red litmus paper blue
(NH3)
Carbon gives white ppt with limewater, ppt dissolves
dioxide (CO2) with excess CO2
Chlorine (Cl2) bleaches damp litmus paper
Hydrogen (H2) produces "pop" sound with lighted splint
Oxygen (O2) relights a glowing splint
Sulfur dioxide turns aqueous acidified potassium dichromate
(SO2) (VI) from orange to green

Test for Anions

Anion Test Test result

Carbonate Effervescence, carbon
Add dilute acid
(CO32-) dioxide produced
Chloride
Acidify with dilute
(Cl-)
nitric acid, then add White ppt
(in
aqueous silver nitrate
solution)
Iodide (I-) Acidify with dilute
(in nitric acid, then add Yellow ppt
solution) aqueous lead(II) nitrate
nitrate Add aqueous sodium
(NO3-) hydroxide, then
Ammonia produced
(in aluminium foil, warm
solution) carefully
Sulfate
Acidify with dilute
(SO42-)
nitric acid, then add White ppt
(in
aqueous barium nitrate
solution)

Colours of some metal hydroxides

Metal hydroxide Colour

calcium hydroxide white
copper(II) hydroxide light blue
iron(II) hydroxide green
iron(III) hydroxide red-brown
lead(II) hydroxide white
zinc hydroxide white
Testing for cations
 Cations can be identified by their reactions with aqueous sodium hydroxide and aqueous ammonia
 A precipitate is an insoluble solid.
 When testing for cations, these precipitates only form when a metal ion in solution joins with
hydroxide ions in solution to form an insoluble metal hydroxide
o eg Cu2+ + 2OH- --> Cu(OH)2 (blue copper(II) hydroxide precipitate)

Add dilute Add excess

Add dilute Add excess
aqueous dilute
Cation NaOH dilute
NH3 (5 aqueous
(5 drops) NaOH
drops) NH3
ppt
white ppt of white ppt of
dissolves
Al3+ aluminium aluminium ppt insoluble
colourless
hydroxide hydroxide
solution
white ppt of
ppt
Ca2+ calcium no reaction no reaction
insoluble
hydroxide
blue ppt of blue ppt of ppt dissolves
ppt
Cu2+ copper(II) copper(II) deep blue
insoluble
hydroxide hydroxide solution
dirty green dirty green
ppt of ppt ppt of
Fe2+ ppt insoluble
iron(II) insoluble iron(II)
hydroxide hydroxide
red-brown red-brown
ppt of ppt ppt of
Fe3+ ppt insoluble
iron(III) insoluble iron(III)
hydroxide hydroxide
ppt
white ppt of white ppt of
dissolves
Pb2+ lead(II) lead(II) ppt insoluble
colourless
hydroxide hydroxide
solution
ppt
white ppt of white ppt of ppt dissolves
2+ dissolves
Zn zinc zinc colourless
colourless
hydroxide hydroxide solution
solution
ammonia
gas is
produced on
warming
with dilute
NaOH. This
NH4+ ammonium - no reaction -
gas has a
pungent
smell and
turns moist
red litmus
paper blue
[Lead(II) ions can be distinguished from aluminium ions by the insolubility of lead(II) chloride.]
MCQ Questions

1. Which statement about salts is not correct?

a, salts are made by neutralising alkalis with acids
b. salts contain anions and cations
c. salts are made by dissolving metal oxides in acids
d. salts always contain water of crystallisation

2. An example of a salt which can be prepared by precipitation is

a. lead(II) nitrate
b. sodium carbonate
c. silver chloride
d. magnesium sulphate

3. A way of distinguishing dilute hydrochloric acid from dilute sulphuric acid is to

a. add universal indicator
b. add aqueous barium nitrate
c. add a metal carbonate
d. add magnesium ribbon

4. Which of these statements about solubility is true?

a. all sulphates are soluble in water except calcium and lead sulphate
b. all nitrates are insoluble in water except sodium and potassium nitrate
c. most metal oxides are soluble in water except those of Group I and II
d. most metal carbonates are soluble in water

5. Barium sulphate is insoluble in water. It is used in a 'barium meal' to allow X-ray studies of the
intestines. It can be prepared by a precipitation reaction between two aqueous solutions. Which two
substances would be suitable for preparing barium sulphate for use in X-ray radiography?
a. barium carbonate and sulphuric acid
b. barium chloride and sodium sulphate
c. barium oxide and potassium sulphate
d. barium nitrate and calcium sulphate

6. Which of these salts is best prepared by reaction with an acid and a base?
a. barium sulphate
b. copper(II) carbonate
c. magnesium sulphate
d. silver chloride

7. A solution of substance X gave a white precipitate when aqueous NaOH was added. However, when
lead(II) nitrate solution was added to an acidified solution of X, a yellow precipitate formed. What is
the correct identity of X?
a. calcium chloride
b. magnesium sulphate
c. sodium bromide
d. zinc iodide
8. Iron(III) hydroxide is precipitated out of solution when aqueous sodium hydroxide solution is
added to iron(II) chloride solution.
Fe3+ (aq) + 3OH- (aq) --> Fe(OH)3 (s)

What is the minimum volume of 2 mol/dm3 aqueous NaOH required to precipitate the maximum
amount of iron(III) hydroxide from 20cm3 of 1 mol/dm3 iron(III) chloride solution?
a. 10 cm3
b. 20 cm3
c. 30 cm3
d. 60 cm3

9. After acidification with dilute nitric acid, a colourless solution X reacts with aqueous silver nitrate
to give a yellow precipitate. What could X be?
a. calcium iodide
b. copper(II) chloride
c. iron(II) iodide
d. sodium chloride

10. An element reacts with steam but not with cold water. Its oxide can be reduced by heating it with
carbon. When it is placed in a solution containing iron(II) ions, a grey deposit is formed. The element
is most likely to be
a. lead
b. magnesium
c. zinc
d. copper