INORGANIC Qualitative TESTS Anions and Alkalis

TEST FOR TEST METHOD OBSERVATIONS TEST CHEMISTRY

Test for Carbonate ion (i) Add any dilute (i) Fizzing - (i) Any carbonate/hydrogencarb
2-
CO3 or strong acid to the colourless onate + acid ==> salt + water +
-
hydrogencarbonate HCO3 suspected solid gas which turns carbon dioxide, then white
carbonate - limewater milky - precipitate with limewater. The
if colourless cloudy fine white ionic equations are for carbonate
gas given off, test precipitate (see ...
with limewater. above CO2).
2- +
CO3 (s) + 2H (aq) ==>
(ii) Effect of fairly (ii) There might be H2O(l) + CO2(g)
strong heating and colour changes in
testing for any the solid, but you and for hydrogencarbonate ...
carbon dioxide need to collect a
given off. sample of gas from 2HCO - + 2H+ ==>
3 (s) (aq)
just above the
H2O(l) + CO2(g)
Test (ii) heated solid to see
Acid is added to the solid will distinguish sod it gives a white (ii) The thermal decomposition
carbonate in a test tube. You ium precipitate with
could also collect a sample hydrogencarbonate limewater. equations are for carbonates
of gas from a heated (NaHCO3 readily
carbonate, i.e. the solid is decomposes - Apart from hydrated MCO3(s) ==>MO(s) + CO2(g)
where the liquid is in the left 'baking powder') sodium carbonate,
hand test tube. from anhydrous sodium e.g. M = Mg, Zn, CuO and note
sodium carbonate hydrogencarbonate that some give clear colour
Methods of gas (Na2CO3, thermally is one of the few changes in the solid which might
preparation are described in very stable). common be useful to identify the metal
more detail on another page. carbonates to give (see heating carbonates in
off water on heating metal cation section)
and condenses on
side of test tube, and for sodium
but basic hydrogencarbonate ...
carbonates will also
give off H2O as well 2NaHCO3(s) ==> Na2CO3(s) +
as CO2. H2O(l) + CO2(g)
Sulphate ion or (i) To a solution of (i) A white (i) Ba2+(aq) + SO42-
2-
sulphate(VI) ion SO4 the suspected precipitate of (aq) ==> BaSO4(s)
[sulfate, sulfate(VI)] sulfate add dilute barium sulfate.
hydrochloric and a Any soluble barium salt + any
If the solution also contains few drops ofbarium (ii) A white soluble sulphate forms a white
the chloride ion, you test with chloride/ precipitate of dense barium sulphate
barium ions 1st, filter off any nitrate solution. lead(II) sulphate. precipitate.
barium sulphate precipitate
and then test for chloride ion. (ii) Add lead(II) 2+ 2-
Test (i) is more (ii) Pb (aq) + SO4
This is because silver nitrate solution. definitive. (aq) ==> PbSO4(s)
sulphate is also ~insoluble.
Neither white precipitate is
soluble in excess hydrochloric
acid.
Sulphite ion or (i) Add dilute (i) Acrid (i) Any sulphite salt +
sulphate(IV) ion SO32- hydrochloric acid to choking hydrochloric acid ==> chloride
[sulfite, sulfate(IV)] the suspected sulfur salt + sulphur dioxide.
sulfite. dioxide

Test (iii) is easily unreliable,
the sulphite ion is oxidised
by air (dissolved oxygen) to
give the sulphate ion, so you
will lucky to obtain a clear
solution after adding excess
acid.
Sulphide ion S2- (sulfide)
In test (ii) dangerous
hydrogen
sulphide(hydrogen
sulfide) is formed.
Chloride ion
- nitric acid and silver chloride soluble in Any soluble silver salt + any
Cl
If the solution also contains
the sulphate ion, you test
with barium ions 1st, filter off
any barium sulphate
precipitate and then test for other non-halide
chloride ion. This is because
silver sulphate is also
~insoluble, so the two
precipitates of silver sulfate add conc. sulphuric silver nitrate
and silver chloride could not acid, warm if
be distinguished
Bromide ion
- nitric acid and silver bromide, only
Br
gas formed.
(ii) Test any gas (ii) The sulphur dioxide reduces
evolved with fresh (ii) The dichromate the dichromate(VI) to
potassium paper turns chromium(III). Note: sulphites do
dichromate(VI) from orangeto gree not give ppt. with acidified barium
paper. n. chloride/nitrate because sulphites
dissolve in acids.
(iii) Add barium (iii) A white ppt. of
chloride or barium barium sulphite (iii) Ba2+(aq) + SO32-
nitrate solution. which dissolves in (aq) ==> BaSO3(s)
excess hydrochloric
acid to give a clear BaSO3(s) +
colourless solution. 2HCl(aq) ==> BaCl2(aq) + H2O(l) +
SO2(aq)
(i) If soluble, add a (i) Black (i) Pb2+(aq) + S2-(aq) => PbS(s)
few drops lead(II) precipitate of lead
ethanoate solution. sulphide. (ii) MS(s) + 2H+(aq) =>
M2+(aq) + H2S(g) (e.g. M = Pb, Fe,
(ii) If solid, add dil. (ii) Rotten egg Cu, Ni etc.) Then reaction (i)
HCl(aq) acid, test smell of hydrogen above occurs on the lead(II)
smelly gas with sulphide and the ethanoate paper (old name lead
damp lead(II) H2S gas turns acetate).
ethanoate paper lead(II) ethanoate
(old name lead paper black.
acetate).
(i) If the chloride is (i) white (i) Ag+(aq) + Cl-(aq) ==> AgCl(s)
soluble, add dilute precipitate of silver
nitrate solution. The dilute ammonia. soluble chloride gives a white
silver nitrate is silver chloride precipitate, that
acidified with dilute (ii) You get darkens in light.
nitric acid to prevent nasty
the precipitation of fumes of hydrogen (ii) Cl- + H SO ==> HSO - +
(s) 2 4(l) 4 (s)
chloride which turn HCl(g) ,
silver salts. bluelitmus red and
give a white
then Ag+(aq) + Cl-(aq) ==> AgCl(s)
(ii) If insoluble salt, precipitate with
2+ -
(iii) Pb (aq) + 2Cl (aq) ==> PbCl2(s)
solution.
necessary then test
gas as for HCl. (iii) A white ppt. of
lead(II) chloride is
(iii) Add lead(II) formed.
nitrate solution. Not
a very specific test -
test (i) is best.
+ -
(i) If bromide (i) Cream (i) Ag (aq) + Br (aq) ==> AgBr(s)
soluble, add dilute precipitate of silver
Any soluble silver salt + any
nitrate solution. The soluble in soluble bromide gives a cream
silver nitrate is concentrated silver bromide precipitate.
acidified with dilute ammonia.
nitric acid to prevent (ii) The bromide ion is oxidised to
 the precipitation of bromine and the sulphuric acid is
other non-halide (ii) Orange reduced to sulphur dioxide.
silver salts. vapour of
bromine and (iii) Pb2+(aq) +
-
(ii) If insoluble salt, pungent fumes of 2Br
add conc. sulphuric SO2, test for (aq) ==> PbBr2(
acid, warm if sulphur dioxide. s)
necessary.
(iii) A white ppt. of
(iii) Add lead(II) lead(II) bromide is
nitrate solution. Not formed.
a very specific test -
test (i) is best.
Fluoride Ion (i) If the suspected (i) There is NO (i) Silver fluoride, AgF, is
fluoride is soluble precipitate! moderately soluble so this test
F- add dilute nitric acid proves little except that it isn't
and silver nitrate (ii) Look for etching chloride, bromide and iodide!
solution. effects on the
Fluoride and
hydrogen surface of the glass (ii) Hydrogen fluoride gas is
fluoride gas (ii) You can warm a rod. produced by displacement
are harmful, solid fluoride with
irritating and corrosive conc. sulphuric acid F- + H2SO4 ==> HSO4-
substances. and hold in the + HF which reacts with the glass
fumes (ONLY!) a silica to form silicic acid, silicon
glass rod with a oxyfluoride, silicon fluoride. The
drop of water on the chemistry is messy and
end. complex BUT the glass rod is
clearly etched.
+ -
Iodide ion (i) If iodide soluble, (i) Yellow (i) Ag (aq) + I (aq) ==> AgI(s) , any
add dilute nitric acid precipitate of silver soluble silver salt + any soluble
I- and silver nitrate iodide insoluble in iodide ==> silver iodide
solution. The silver concentrated precipitate,
nitrate is acidified ammonia.
with dilute nitric acid (ii) iodide ion is oxidised to iodine
to prevent the (ii) purple and the sulphuric acid is reduced
precipitation of vapour and rotten to 'rotten eggs' smelly hydrogen
other non-halide egg smell! sulphide,
silver salts.
(iii) Yellow (iii) insoluble lead(II) iodide
(ii) If insoluble salt precipitate of formed
can heat with conc. lead(II) iodide. Not
sulphuric acid, (ii) too definitive -Test Pb
2+ -
+ 2I (aq) ==> PbI2(s)
(aq)
get purple fumes of (i) best.
iodine and very
smelly hydrogen
sulphide.

(iii) If iodide
soluble, add lead(II)
nitrate solution.
Nitrate ion or (i) Boil the (i) the (i) The aluminium powder is a
nitrate(V) ion NO3- suspected nitrate fumes powerful reducing agent and
with sodium contain converts the nitrate ion, NO3-, into

Nitrite ion or
-
nitrate(III) ion NO2 colourless NO gas which rapidly oxidises to nasty brown fumes of NO 2, (ii)
Alkali: Hydroxide (i) Litmus or
ion i.e. a soluble
base (alkali) which or pH meter.
forms the OH- ion
in water (note: to
completely identify alkalis ammonium salt.
you need to test for the
cation e.g. sodium for
NaOH etc.)
Chromate(VI) ion (i) Add dilute
2-
CrO4 (yellow)
These tests are not very
definitive, but collectively
they are a good 'pointer'!
hydroxide solution ammonia, which ammonia gas, NH3
and fine aluminium turns red litmus
powder (Devarda's blue, seeammonia (ii) NO complex of iron(II) formed
Alloy) or aluminium test details
foil. (iii) a general thermal
(ii) Where the decomposition equation for this
(ii) Add iron(ii) liquids meet reaction is
sulphate solution a brown ringforms
and then conc. 2M(NO3)2(s) ==> 2MO(s) +
sulphuric acid (the (iii) Nasty brown 4NO2(g) + O2(g)
'brown ring' test) gas (beware!)
of nitrogen (IV)
where M = Pb,
(iii) Strongly oxide (nitrogen
Zn, Mg, Cu
heating nitrates of dioxide)
etc.
M2+ salts.
No simple test to clearly i.d. it, (i) in acid solution it decomposes to give
it decolourises (purple ==> colourless) acidified potassium manganate(VII),
(iii) it liberates iodine from acidified potassium iodide solution, (iv) forms
ammonia with hot Al powder-foil/NaOH(aq) (see nitrate test) and gives
'brown ring' test - see nitrate tests above.
(i) It (i) A pH meter gives a value of
universal indicator turns litmus blue, more than 7, the higher the pH
variety of colours number the stronger the alkali,
univ. ind. dark the higher the OH- concentration,
(ii) Add a little of an green - violet for (ii) ammonia gas is evolved:
weak - strong.
(ii) Ammonia released from the
(ii) If strongly salt.
alkaline ammonia
should be released, NH4+(aq) + OH-(aq) ==> NH3(g) +
see ammonia H2O(l)
test for rest of
details
(i) (i) CrO42-(aq) + 2H+(aq) ==> Cr2O72-
sulphuric acid. The yellow solution (aq)
turns orange as the
(ii) Add barium dichromate(VI) ion (ii) Ba2+(aq) + CrO42-(aq) ==>
chloride/nitrate is formed. BaCrO4(s)
solution.
(ii) A yellow (iii) Pb2+(aq) + CrO42-(aq) ==>
(iii) Add lead(II) precipitate of PbCrO4(s)
nitrate solution. barium
chromate(VI) is
formed.
(iii) A yellow
precipitate of
lead(II)
chromate(VI) is
formed. 'lead
chromate'