Cambridge IGCSE Chemistry 0620 syllabus for 2023, 2024 and 2025.

Details of the assessment

Notes for use in qualitative analysis

Tests for anions
anion test test result
2−
carbonate, CO3 add dilute acid, then test for carbon dioxide effervescence, carbon dioxide produced
gas
chloride, Cl  − acidify with dilute nitric acid, then add white ppt.
[in solution] aqueous silver nitrate
bromide, Br − acidify with dilute nitric acid, then add cream ppt.
[in solution] aqueous silver nitrate
iodide, I− acidify with dilute nitric acid, then add yellow ppt.
[in solution] aqueous silver nitrate
nitrate, NO3– add aqueous sodium hydroxide, then ammonia produced
[in solution] aluminium foil; warm carefully
sulfate, SO42− acidify with dilute nitric acid, then add white ppt.
[in solution] aqueous barium nitrate
sulfite, SO32− add a small volume of acidified aqueous the acidified aqueous
potassium manganate(VII) potassium manganate (VII) changes
colour from purple to colourless

Tests for aqueous cations

cation effect of aqueous sodium hydroxide effect of aqueous ammonia
3+
aluminium, Al white ppt., soluble in excess, giving a white ppt., insoluble in excess
colourless solution
ammonium, NH4+ ammonia produced on warming —

calcium, Ca2+ white ppt., insoluble in excess no ppt. or very slight white ppt.
3+
chromium(III), Cr green ppt., soluble in excess green ppt., insoluble in excess
copper(II), Cu2+ light blue ppt., insoluble in excess light blue ppt., soluble in excess, giving a
dark blue solution
iron(II), Fe2+ green ppt., insoluble in excess, ppt. turns green ppt., insoluble in excess, ppt. turns
brown near surface on standing brown near surface on standing
iron(III), Fe3+ red-brown ppt., insoluble in excess red-brown ppt., insoluble in excess
2+
zinc, Zn white ppt., soluble in excess, giving a white ppt., soluble in excess, giving a
colourless solution colourless solution

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Cambridge IGCSE Chemistry 0620 syllabus for 2023, 2024 and 2025. Details of the assessment

Tests for gases

gas test and test result
ammonia, NH3 turns damp red litmus paper blue
carbon dioxide, CO2 turns limewater milky
chlorine, Cl 2 bleaches damp litmus paper
hydrogen, H2 ‘pops’ with a lighted splint
oxygen, O2 relights a glowing splint
sulfur dioxide, SO2 turns acidified aqueous potassium manganate(VII) from purple to colourless

Flame tests for metal ions

metal ion flame colour
+
lithium, Li red
+
sodium, Na yellow
potassium, K+ lilac
2+
calcium, Ca orange-red
barium, Ba2+ light green
2+
copper(II), Cu blue-green

46 www.cambridgeinternational.org/igcse Back to contents page

 The Periodic Table of Elements
Group
I II III IV V VI VII VIII

Back to contents page

1 2

H He
hydrogen helium
Key 1 4
3 4 atomic number 5 6 7 8 9 10

Li Be atomic symbol B C N O F Ne
lithium beryllium name boron carbon nitrogen oxygen fluorine neon
7 9 relative atomic mass 11 12 14 16 19 20
11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18
Na Mg Al Si P S Cl Ar
sodium magnesium aluminium silicon phosphorus sulfur chlorine argon
23 24 27 28 31 32 35.5 40
19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36
K Ca Sc Ti V Cr Mn Fe Co Ni Cu Zn Ga Ge As Se Br Kr
potassium calcium scandium titanium vanadium chromium manganese iron cobalt nickel copper zinc gallium germanium arsenic selenium bromine krypton
39 40 45 48 51 52 55 56 59 59 64 65 70 73 75 79 80 84
The Periodic Table of Elements

37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54

Rb Sr Y Zr Nb Mo Tc Ru Rh Pd Ag Cd In Sn Sb Te I Xe
rubidium strontium yttrium zirconium niobium molybdenum technetium ruthenium rhodium palladium silver cadmium indium tin antimony tellurium iodine xenon
85 88 89 91 93 96 – 101 103 106 108 112 115 119 122 128 127 131
55 56 57–71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86
lanthanoids
Cs Ba Hf Ta W Re Os Ir Pt Au Hg Tl Pb Bi Po At Rn
caesium barium hafnium tantalum tungsten rhenium osmium iridium platinum gold mercury thallium lead bismuth polonium astatine radon
133 137 178 181 184 186 190 192 195 197 201 204 207 209 – – –
87 88 89–103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118
actinoids
Fr Ra Rf Db Sg Bh Hs Mt Ds Rg Cn Nh Fl Mc Lv Ts Og
francium radium rutherfordium dubnium seaborgium bohrium hassium meitnerium darmstadtium roentgenium copernicium nihonium flerovium moscovium livermorium tennessine oganesson
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71
lanthanoids La Ce Pr Nd Pm Sm Eu Gd Tb Dy Ho Er Tm Yb Lu
lanthanum cerium praseodymium neodymium promethium samarium europium gadolinium terbium dysprosium holmium erbium thulium ytterbium lutetium
139 140 141 144 – 150 152 157 159 163 165 167 169 173 175
89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103
actinoids Ac Th Pa U Np Pu Am Cm Bk Cf Es Fm Md No Lr
actinium thorium protactinium uranium neptunium plutonium americium curium berkelium californium einsteinium fermium mendelevium nobelium lawrencium
– 232 231 238 – – – – – – – – – – –

The volume of one mole of any gas is 24 dm3 at room temperature and pressure (r.t.p.).

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47
Cambridge IGCSE Chemistry 0620 syllabus for 2023, 2024 and 2025. Details of the assessment
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1 Two substances, C and D, were analysed. Solid C was a salt and solution D was an aqueous
solution of chromium(III) chloride.
The tests on solid C, and some of the observations, are in the following table.

tests observations

tests on solid C

Solid C was added to distilled water in a

test-tube and shaken to dissolve.

The solution was divided into two portions in

test-tubes, and the following tests carried out.

Appearance of the solution. colourless liquid

The pH of the first portion of the solution was pH = 7

tested.

Dilute nitric acid was added to the second

portion of the solution followed by aqueous cream precipitate
silver nitrate.

A flame test was carried out on solid C. yellow flame colour

(a) Identify solid C.

.............................................................................................................................................. [2]

(b) Describe the appearance of solution D.

.............................................................................................................................................. [1]

(c) Tests were carried out on solution D.

Complete the observations for tests 1, 2 and 3.

(i) test 1

Drops of aqueous sodium hydroxide were added to solution D.

Excess aqueous sodium hydroxide was then added to the mixture.

observations .......................................................................................................................

....................................................................................................................................... [3]
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(ii) test 2

Excess aqueous ammonia was added to solution D.

observations ................................................................................................................. [2]

(iii) test 3

Dilute nitric acid was added to solution D followed by aqueous silver nitrate.

observations ................................................................................................................. [1]

(d) Chromium(III) can be converted to chromium(VI). Chromium(VI) is hazardous.

Suggest one safety precaution when using chromium(VI).

.............................................................................................................................................. [1]

[Total: 10]
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2 Two solids, L and M, were analysed. Solid L was copper(II) chloride and solid M was a different
salt.
The tests on the solids, and some of the observations, are shown.

tests on solid L

(a) Describe the appearance of solid L.

observation .......................................................................................................................... [1]

(b) Distilled water was added to solid L and shaken to dissolve.

The solution was divided into four equal portions in four test-tubes and the following tests
carried out.

(i) Drops of aqueous ammonia were added to the first portion of the solution.

Excess ammonia solution was then added to the mixture and shaken.

observation .........................................................................................................................

.............................................................................................................................................

.............................................................................................................................................

....................................................................................................................................... [4]

(ii) Excess aqueous sodium hydroxide was added to the second portion of the solution.

observation .........................................................................................................................

....................................................................................................................................... [1]

(iii) Dilute nitric acid was added to the third portion of the solution followed by aqueous silver
nitrate.

observation ................................................................................................................... [1]

(iv) Dilute nitric acid was added to the fourth portion of the solution followed by aqueous
barium nitrate.

observation ................................................................................................................... [1]

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tests on solid M

Tests are carried out and the following observations made.

tests on solid M observations

Appearance of the solid. white crystals

The solid was heated and the gas given off was a sublimate formed
tested with damp red litmus paper. on the sides of the test-tube

litmus paper turned blue

Solid M was dissolved in water to form a

solution.

Aqueous sodium hydroxide was added to the pungent gas evolved

solution and the mixture heated. The gas given
off was tested. pH paper showed pH 10

Dilute nitric acid was added to the solution

followed by aqueous silver nitrate. yellow precipitate

(c) Identify solid M.

....................................................................................................................................................

.............................................................................................................................................. [2]

[Total: 10]
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4 A solid U was analysed. U was a soluble metal sulfate.

3.
The tests on U, and some of the observations are in the following table.
Complete the observations.

tests observations

tests on solid U

(a) Appearance of solid U. pink crystals

(b) Solid U was heated gently and then

strongly in a test-tube. condensation droplets formed on the sides of the test-tube

(c) Solid U was added to distilled

water in a test-tube and shaken
until dissolved.
The solution was divided into
three equal portions in separate
test-tubes and the following tests
carried out.

Several drops of aqueous sodium

hydroxide were added to the first
portion of the solution and the pale brown precipitate
test-tube shaken.

Then hydrogen peroxide solution effervescence

was added to the mixture and the glowing splint relit
gas given off tested.

(d) Dilute nitric acid was added to ............................................................................................

the second portion of the solution
followed by barium nitrate solution. ...................................................................................... [2]

(e) Dilute nitric acid was added to the

third portion of the solution followed
by silver nitrate solution. ...................................................................................... [1]
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(f) What does test (e) tell you about solid U?

.............................................................................................................................................. [1]

(g) Name the gas given off in test (c).

.............................................................................................................................................. [1]

(h) What conclusions can you draw about solid U?

....................................................................................................................................................

.............................................................................................................................................. [2]

[Total: 7]
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6 A solid D, which is a soluble metal sulfate, was analysed.

4. The tests on D, and some of the observations, are in the following table.
Complete the observations in the table.

tests observations

tests on solid D

(a) (i) Appearance of solid D. pale green crystals

(ii) Solid D was heated in a

test-tube gently and then condensation formed at the top of the test-tube
strongly.

tests on the aqueous solution

Solid D was added to distilled water

and shaken to dissolve. The solution
was divided into four equal portions in
separate test-tubes.

(b) (i) Several drops of aqueous

sodium hydroxide were added green precipitate
to the first portion of the solution.

Excess aqueous sodium

hydroxide was added to the green precipitate remained
mixture.

(ii) Excess aqueous ammonia was

added to the second portion of green precipitate
the solution.

(c) Aqueous silver nitrate and dilute

nitric acid were added to the third
portion of the solution. ...................................................................................... [1]

(d) Aqueous barium nitrate and dilute

nitric acid were added to the fourth
portion of the solution. ...................................................................................... [2]
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(e) What does test (a) tell you about solid D?

.............................................................................................................................................. [2]

(f) What conclusions can you draw about the identity of solid D?

....................................................................................................................................................

.............................................................................................................................................. [3]

[Total: 8]
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2 Two liquids, L and M, were analysed. L was aqueous potassium iodide. M was a colourless
5.
liquid.
The tests on the liquids and some of the observations are in the following table.
Complete the observations in the table.

tests observations

tests on liquid L

(a) Appearance of liquid L. ............................................................ [1]

Liquid L was divided into three equal portions

in separate test-tubes.

(b) (i) An iodine crystal was added to the first

portion of liquid L. The test-tube was
stoppered and the contents shaken. liquid turned orange

(ii) An equal volume of liquid M was added

to the test-tube, the contents shaken two layers were formed,
and left to stand for five minutes. pink top layer and orange lower layer

(c) To the second portion of liquid L, dilute

nitric acid and barium nitrate solution were
added. ............................................................ [1]

(d) To the third portion of liquid L, dilute nitric

acid and silver nitrate solution were added. ............................................................ [2]

(e) Why does the colour of liquid L change in test (b)(i)?

...........................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................... [1]

(f) What conclusions can you draw about liquid M from test (b)(ii)?

...........................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................... [2]

[Total: 7]
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3 A mixture of two solids, M and N, was analysed.

6. Solid M was zinc sulfate which is water-soluble and solid N was insoluble.
The tests on the mixture, and some of the observations, are in the table.
Complete the observations in the table.

tests observations

Distilled water was added to the mixture in a

boiling tube and shaken. The contents of the
tube were filtered and the filtrate and residue
kept for the following tests.

tests on the filtrate

The filtrate was divided into four portions.

(a) (i) Drops of aqueous sodium hydroxide

were added to the first portion of the
filtrate. .......................................................................
Excess aqueous sodium hydroxide
was then added. ................................................................. [3]

(ii) Drops of aqueous ammonia were

added to the second portion of the
filtrate. .......................................................................
Excess aqueous ammonia was then
added. ................................................................. [2]

(b) About 1 cm3 of dilute nitric acid followed

by silver nitrate solution was added to the
third portion of the filtrate. ................................................................. [1]

(c) About 1 cm3 of dilute nitric acid followed by

barium nitrate solution was added to the
fourth portion of the filtrate. ................................................................. [2]
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tests observations

tests on the residue

(d) Appearance of the residue. black solid

(e) Dilute hydrochloric acid was added to

a little of the residue. The mixture was effervescence
heated and the gas given off was tested
with damp blue litmus paper. pungent gas, bleached litmus paper

(f) Aqueous hydrogen peroxide was added effervescence

to a little of the residue. The gas given off
was tested. glowing splint relit

(g) Identify the gas given off in test (e).

..................................................................................................................................... [1]

(h) Identify the gas given off in test (f).

..................................................................................................................................... [1]

(i) What conclusions can you draw about solid N?

...........................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................... [2]

[Total: 12]
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4 Two different liquids, M and N, were analysed. N was aqueous potassium iodide.
7. The tests on the liquids and some of the observations are in the following table.
Complete the observations in the table.

tests observations

(a) (i) Appearance of liquid M. colourless liquid with an antiseptic smell

(ii) Appearance of liquid N. ............................................................ [2]

(b) (i) A few drops of M were transferred

to a dry watch glass. The liquid was burns with a yellow flame
touched with a lighted splint.

(ii) Test (b)(i) was repeated using liquid N. ............................................................ [1]

(c) A little of liquid M was added to a crystal

of iodine in a test-tube. The test-tube was
shaken. orange-brown solution

(d) To a little of liquid N, a few drops of dilute

nitric acid was added, followed by silver
nitrate solution. ........................................................... [2]

(e) What type of substance is liquid M?

...........................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................... [2]

[Total: 7]
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5 Three different liquids P, Q and R were analysed.

8. P was an aqueous solution of sulfuric acid.
The tests on the liquids and some of the observations are in the following table.
Complete the observations in the table.

tests observations

(a) (i) Appearance of the liquids. P ............................................................... [1]

Q colourless, smell of vinegar

R colourless, no smell

(ii) The pH of the liquids was tested using P ............................................................... [1]

Universal Indicator paper.
Q pH 5

R pH 7

(b) A piece of magnesium ribbon was added P .....................................................................

to a little of each liquid.
The gas given off by liquid P was tested. ................................................................... [2]

Q slow effervescence

R no reaction

(c) To a little of liquid P, hydrochloric acid and

aqueous barium chloride were added. ................................................................... [2]

(d) Liquid R was heated to boiling in a

test-tube. A thermometer was used to temperature = 100 °C
record the constant temperature of the
vapour produced.

(e) What conclusions can you draw about liquid Q?

..................................................................................................................................... [2]

(f) Identify liquid R.

..................................................................................................................................... [1]

[Total: 9]