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Chemical Tests of Some Ions in Salt

Flame tastes

 used to identify the presence of a relatively small number of metal ions in a compound
 commonly used to identify the presence of Li, Na, K, Ca, Sr and Ba ions in salts.
 Certain metals give a characteristic color to a Bunsen flame when their solid salts or moist salts are heated
directly in the flame
 flame colors observed while heating the salts containing Li+, Na+, K+, Ca2+, Sr+2 and Ba2+:-
Metal ion in the salt Color of flame produced
lithium Crimson
sodium Yellow
potassium Purple (violet)
calcium Orange-red
strontium Crimson
barium green

Test for Cations - II

presence of Cu2+, Fe2+ and Fe3+ in salts.

1. The formation of a blue precipitate which dissolves in excess ammonia to form a deep blue solution indicates
the presence of Cu2+ ions.
The blue precipitate is Cu(OH)2, which dissolves in excess ammonia to form copper (II) tetra amine,
Cu(NH3)42+
2. The formation of a pale-green precipitate in the second test tube indicates the presence of Fe2+ ions.
Fe2+ (aq) + 2OH- (aq) → Fe (OH)2 (s)
Pale-green
3. The formation of a pale-brown precipitate in the third tube confirms the presence of Fe 3+ ions:
Fe3+(aq) + 3OH-(aq) → Fe(OH)3 (s)
Pale-brown

Test for Sulphates

Formation of white precipitate (BaSO4) indicates the presence of sulfate ions in the solution. It is formed by the
reaction of Ba2+ and SO4 2−
Ba2+ (aq) + SO42− (aq) → BaSO4(s)
Some drops of dilute HCl are added to the solution to be tested to avoid confusion. That is, ions like CO 32−can
form a precipitate with Ba2+. However, HCl dissolves compounds like BaCO3 but not BaSO4.
Test for Halide Ions( chloride ,bromide and iodide ion)
1. After the addition of AgNO3 in the presence of HNO3
I . The formation of white precipitate in the first test tube indicates the presence of chloride ions .The white
precipitate is AgCl
II. The formation of yellow precipitate in the second test tube proves the presence of bromide ions and the yellow
precipitate is AgBr
III .The formation of yellowish-green precipitates confi rms the presence of iodide ions and the precipitate is AgI.

HNO3 is used in this experiment to prevent unwanted precipitation by the reaction of Ag+ and other ions.
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If ammonia solution is added to each test tube, the precipitate in the first (AgCl) will dissolve, the precipitate in
the second (AgBr) will dissolve partly, while the precipitate in the third (AgI) will not dissolve
Conducting Test for Carbonates and Hydrogen Carbonates
When dilute HCl is added to the solution of Na2CO3 and NaHCO3, there is an evolution of carbon dioxide gas,
which turns lime water milky. This is due to the formation of CaCO3.
Ca(OH)2(aq) + CO2(aq) → CaCO3(s) + H2O(l)
Upon addition of calcium chloride solution, solutions of carbonates form a white precipitate of CaCO 3.
Ca2+(aq) + CO32-(aq) → CaCO3(s)
Solutions of hydrogen carbonates do not form precipitate upon the addition of CaCl2
Test for Nitrates (Brown Ring Test)

When concentrated sulphuric acid is poured down the side of the test tube, the acid sinks to the bottom, and a
brown ring is formed where the two layers meet.

The formula of the substance that forms the brown ring is FeSO4⋅NO.

Some drops of dilute HCl are added to the solution to be tested to avoid confusion. That is, ions like CO 32 -
can form a precipitate with Ba2+. However, HCl dissolves compounds like BaCO3 but not BaSO4.

Plant Nutrients
Essential plant nutrients - either macronutrients or micronutrients, depending on the amount required by plants.

 primary mineral nutrients - Nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium

Nitrogen (N)
 very important plant nutrient and absorbed by plants in the form of nitrate ions (NO3–).
 utilized in the synthesis of amino acids, proteins, coenzymes and nucleic acids which are taking place in
the growth and development of plants
 involved in the synthesis of chlorophyll to produce a deep green color.
Phosphorus (P)
 absorbed by plants mainly in the form of H2PO4– and HPO3 2– in small amounts.
 facilitates early growth and root formation, quick maturity and promotes seed or fruit production.
 role - in the formation of some amino acids and proteins, coenzymes, nucleic acids and high energy
phosphate compounds like Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP).
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Potassium (K)
 absorbed by plants in the form of the K+ ion.
 a component of enzymes that facilitate the process of photosynthesis , protein synthesis, and adjusts
stomata movement.
 the most important ion in controlling the turgidity of plant cells.
 increases in the solute potential (sap concentration) within the cells which leads to an increase in the
amount of water that enters the cells osmotically.

Fertilizers
 materials that are added to soils to increase the growth, yield or nutritional value of crops. There
 are organic( natural) and synthetic (artificial) fertilizers.
Organic (natural) fertilizers are fertilizers derived from animals and plants:-
 provide readily available nutrients to plants after some period of decay and
decomposition and can supply the elements nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and
various trace elements to the soil.
Synthetic (artificial) fertilizers contain nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium, andare known as complete
fertilizers.
 A mixed artificial fertilizer may contain nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium.
 Such type of fertilizer is called a complete fertilizer.
 The term NPK is used to describe fertilizers containing the elements N, P and K
 Examples of artificial fertilizers are ammonium sulphate, (NH 4)2SO4, potassium nitrate (KNO3),
ammonium nitrate (NH4NO3), and diammonium hydrogen phosphate, DAP (NH4)2HPO4).
 Most important mineral nutrients that need to be added to the soil are N, P and K.
 All three elements are needed in large quantities. Commercial fertilizers are normally given a “grade”,
which reflects the percentages they contain of N, P and K by dry weight.
 For example, a NPK fertilizer may be described as 10:10:10 indicating that there is 10% of each element
in the fertilizer.
The suitable proportions are best determined in relation to the tested fertility of the soil and the
requirements of the particular crop that is being grown on it.
fertilizers of the same composition are not used for different purposes.
E.g.In nitrogen-deficient soil, a fertilizer containing a higher percentage of nitrogen than phosphorus and
potassium must be used.
all fertilizers are not used for the treatment of all kinds of soil.
 For example, ammonium sulphate is more suitable for use in basic soils than in acidic or
neutral soils.
Pesticides
 chemicals that can be applied to crops to kill pests that affect plant growth and development
 majority of the pesticides used in agriculture are organic compounds
 some inorganic substances that serve as pesticides
Herbicides(weed killers)
 chemicals used to manipulate or control undesirable plants.
 examples of herbicidal salts are: Common salt ( NaCl), copper sulphate ( CuSO4), sodium arsenite
(NaAsO2), Ammonium sulphamate (NH4SO3NH2), sodium chlorate (NaClO3).

Properties of Salts
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Salts classified depending on the anion (negative ion) they possess, b/c the anion is partly responsible for the
solubility of the salt.
1. Solubility of salts
Some salts are soluble in water; some are insoluble while some salts are only slightly soluble.
2. Tendency to absorb water from the atmosphere or release water to the atmosphere.
Salts can be classified as hygroscopic, deliquescent and efflorescent depending on their tendency to absorb
water from or release water to the atmosphere
 Hygroscopic salts - absorb water from the atmosphere but remain solid.
Example: Anhydrous copper (II) sulphate, CuSO4
 Deliquescent salts -absorb water from the atmosphere to form a solution.
 The process of absorbing water from the atmosphere by a solid to form a solution is called
deliquescence.
Example: Calcium chloride(CaCl2), Sodium nitrate (NaNO3), Iron(III) chloride (FeCl3)
 Efflorescent salts- lose their water of crystallization to the atmosphere.
 The loss of water of crystallization by solid crystals to the atmosphere is known as
efflorescence.
Note that all deliquescent substances are hygroscopic, but all hygroscopic substances are not necessarily
deliquescent.
Example Hydrated sodium carbonate (Na2CO3•10H2O), Hydrated sodium sulphate (Na2SO4•10H2O)
3. Aqueous solutions of soluble salts - good conductors of electricity, b/c they release mobile positive and
negative ions in solution.
NaNO3 (aq) → Na+ (aq) + NO3– (aq)
CaCl2 (aq) → Ca2+(aq) + 2Cl– (aq)
4. Thermal stability of salts:
is the property of a salt to resist irreversible change in its chemical or physical structure
 resisting decomposition at a high relative temperature.
When different salts containing the same anion are heated, they may not show similar behavior. Some are
thermally stable while others undergo decomposition.
A. Thermal decomposition of carbonates
All carbonates of Group IIA undergo thermal decomposition to the metal oxide
and carbon dioxide gas.
 “thermal decomposition” describes splitting up a compound by heating it. anion.
MCO3(s) → MO(s) + CO2
Carbonates of Group IIA are: MgCO3, CaCO3, SrCO3, BaCO3
 The carbonates become more thermally stable down the group.
 In Group IA, lithium carbonate behaves in the same way, producing lithium oxide and carbon dioxide:
Li2CO3(s) → Li2O(s)+CO2
The rest of the Group IA carbonates do not decompose at laboratory temperatures although at higher
temperatures this becomes possible.
 The decomposition temperatures again increase down the group.
Most transition metals decompose on heating to give the metal oxides and carbon dioxide:
Example : CuCO3 (s) → CuO (s) + CO2 (g)
B. Thermal decomposition of nitrates
Group IIA and most transition metal nitrates undergo thermal decomposition to the metal oxide, nitrogen
dioxide and oxygen gas.
Nitrate → Metal oxide + Nitrogen dioxide + Oxygen
Example: 2Mg(NO3)2 (s) → 2MgO (s) + 4NO2 (g) + O2 (g)
2Pb(NO3)2 (s) → 2PbO (s) + 4NO2 (g) + O2 (g)
Nitrates of sodium and potassium decompose on heating to give nitrites (instead of the oxides) and oxygen
gas;
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2NaNO3 (s) → 2NaNO2 (s) + O2 (g)

2KNO3 (s) → 2KNO2 (s) + O2 (g)
Carbonate and nitrate of lithium differ from those of sodium and potassium; they decompose on heating in
the following manner:
4LiNO3 (s) → 2Li2O (s) + 4NO2 (s) + O2 (g)
Li2CO3 (s) → Li2O (s) + CO2 (g)
Note that both the nitrates and carbonates of lithium are thermally unstable similar to Group IIA. This
reveals that lithium behaves more like Group IIA rather than Group IA.