Chemistry Practical

Revision
 Table of Contents

01 Volumetric
Analysis 03 Energy Changes & Speed
of Reactions

02 Qualitative
Analysis 04 Planning & Overall
 03
Qualiative Analysis
 Qualitative Analysis
01 Cations and Anions Test
02 Keywords in QA questions
03 QA skills
04 Writing observations for cations
and anions test
05 Test for gases
06 Writing observations for gas test
07 Application
 Qualitative Analysis
Test for anions Test for cations

anion test test result cation NaOH (aq) NH3 (aq)

carbonate add dilute acid effervescence, aluminium white ppt., soluble in white ppt. insoluble in
(CO32-) carbon dioxide (Al3+) excess giving a colourless excess
produced solution
chloride (Cl-) acidify with dilute nitric white ppt. ammonium ammonia produced on -
acid, then add (NH4+) warming
[in solution] aqueous silver nitrate
iodide (I-) acidify with dilute nitric yellow ppt. calcium white ppt., insoluble in no ppt.
acid, then add (Ca2+) excess
[in solution] aqueous silver nitrate copper(II) light blue ppt., insoluble in light blue ppt., soluble in
nitrate (NO3-) add aqueous sodium ammonia (Cu2+) excess excess giving a dark
hydroxide, then produced blue solution
[in solution] aluminium foil, warm iron(II) green ppt., insoluble in green ppt., insoluble in
carefully (Fe2+) excess excess
sulfate (SO42-) acidify with dilute nitric white ppt. iron(III) red-brown ppt., insoluble red-brown ppt., insoluble
acid, then add (Fe3+) in excess in excess
[in solution] aqueous barium lead(II) white ppt., soluble in white ppt., insoluble in
nitrate (Pb2+) excess giving a colourless excess
solution
zinc (Zn )
2+
white ppt., soluble in white ppt., soluble in
excess giving a colourless excess giving a
solution colourless solution
[Pb ions can be distinguished from Al3+ ions by the
2+
insolubility of lead(II) chloride]
 Qualitative Analysis
Keywords What to consider/expect
Warm gently Most likely, a gas will be produced, therefore prepare to test for gas (e.g.
prepare moist litmus paper/limewater) before warming the solution.
Add solution A until Most likely we will be able to observe a change, either in the form of:
a change is seen  Colour change or
 A precipitate may be formed (state colour of precipitate)
Add excess of Adding excess will allow for us to note if the precipitate formed is soluble
solution B or insoluble in excess of the solution.
 Precipitate remains insoluble in excess of solution B or
 Precipitate is soluble of excess of solution B and it dissolves to form a
____________ (coloured/colourless) solution
Note appearance After a few minutes:
after a few minutes  Precipitate may be oxidised and a colour change may be observed (e.g.
dirty green ppt turns reddish brown) or
 Precipitate settles to the bottom (state colour)
Add dilute nitric Purpose: To acidify mixture and to check if precipitate formed will remain
acid to the mixture insoluble or dissolve in HNO3
from (a)
 QA Skills – Adding solution to test-
tube
Skills needed What does it mean?

Add a portion of solution X Add a small volume of solution X, allow it to cover the
hemisphere of the test-tube.

Add a few drops of Add 2 – 3 drops of solution and record observations.

NaOH/aq NH3

Add excess NaOH/aq NH3 Excess = double the current volume in the test tube.

Purpose of adding excess is to check if the precipitate formed

remains insoluble or dissolves – can choose to pour away
solution above before adding excess.

Ensure that you shake the Hit the test-tube on the back of your palm to ensure even
test tube well after adding the mixing.
other reagent to the test-tube Otherwise, can use a clean glass rod to mix the reagents well.
QA skills - Writing observations
What you might record as
Instructions What you need to do
observation
Add aq. sodium  Add a few drops to about 1 cm3 – don’t shake, Positive result:
hydroxide/ look out for any ppt first.
 _______ ppt produced.
aq. ammonia  Note the colour of the ppt.
 ppt insoluble in excess OR
 You might need to add excess if asked to
 ppt dissolves in excess,
 add at least ½ test-tube full and shake well to producing a ______
see if dissolve in excess solution.
 If there’s too much ppt, pour some away till left  

about 1 cm3, then add at least ½ test-tube full Negative result:

and shake
 No visible change observed.
Add silver  Test for chloride Positive result:
nitrate /
 Test for sulfate  ____________ ppt
Add barium produced.
 Test for iodide or chloride
nitrate /  

Add lead (II) Negative result:

nitrate  No visible change observed.
QA Skills - Recording colour of precipitate
Questions Answers
What is the difference • If you have problems differentiating between a white,
between “cream” cream, pale yellow precipitate, you can pour the ppt on
precipitate vs white white tile.
precipitate?

• Just try to describe the colour based on what you see.

 QA Skills - Test for gases
Tests for gases

gas test and test result

ammonia (NH3) turns damp red litmus paper blue
carbon dioxide (CO2) gives white ppt. with limewater
(ppt. dissolves with excess CO2)
chlorine (Cl2) bleaches damp litmus paper
hydrogen (H2) ‘pops’ with a lighted splint
oxygen (O2) relights a glowing splint
sulfur dioxide (SO2) turns acidified potassium manganate(VII) from
purple to colourless
(not tested in practical)
Only 5 gases that may be produced in a QA practical.
 Qualitative Analysis
How do I know which gas to test for?
To know what gas to test for, you should be familiar with the following reactions:

Gases Reactions that produces gases:

H2 Acid + metal (grey powder/shiny metal strip)
CO2 1. Acid + metal carbonate (white/green solid, colourless solution)
2. Strongly heat metal carbonate (white/green solid)
NH3 1. Ammonium salt + NaOH + warm
2. Nitrate ions + NaOH + Al + warm
O2 1. H2O2 + manganese (IV) oxide (black solid)
2. H2O2 + KMnO4 + sulfuric acid
Cl2 1. Add sodium chlorate + warm
2. Hydrochloric acid + manganese (IV) oxide + warm
QA skills - What to take note of?
Questions
We should prepare the gas test
beforehand, but how do I know that a gas
is being produced?
There are so many gases, how do I know
which one to test for?
How to turn on the Bunsen burner safely?
When do I use non-luminuous flame?
When do I use luminous flame?
Answers
• Look out for bubbling/effervescence
(Repeat experiment to test for the gas)
• Look at the reagents being used
Look at the reagent used, be familiar with
the reactions that produces a gas.
1. Clear table top space
2. Close the air hole, light the Bunsen
burner, open the air hole halfway for
non-luminuous flame.
For warming/gentle heating/strong heating,
always use non-luminuous flame.
 Qualitative Analysis
Hydrogen (H2)
Reaction producing hydrogen
1. Acid with metals (solid) - grey powder / shinny strip

Mg strip Zn powder

● Get ready lighted splint before the reaction

 Qualitative Analysis
Carbon Dioxide (CO2)
Reactions producing carbon dioxide
1. Acid with metal carbonate (usually solid but can be in solution form too)
○ Solid metal carbonate can be white / coloured
e.g. CaCO3 is a white powder, CuCO3 is green in colour

2. Thermal decomposition of metal carbonate (STRONG heating)

○ Only 1 reactant (solid) and strong heating required

● Get ready limewater (in test tube) and delivery tube before adding the solution/
heating
○ 2 – 3 cm3 of limewater (fingertip)
○ Bubble the gas INTO the limewater
 Bubbling gas into limewater
Question Answer
What do I do This phenomenon is called the “suck back”. It happens when you remove
when I heat a the heat source away from the test tube with solid under test and hence
solution that is due to the difference in temperature, the limewater in the other test tube
connected to a is sucked into the test tube with the acid.
delivery tube
and the solution
is suddenly
sucked into the
test tube?

To avoid this, you need to continue to put the test tube with solid under
test above the flame.

What you should do:

Stay calm. Remove the test tube with limewater when white ppt is formed
before removing the HCl test tube from the heat source.
 Qualitative Analysis
Ammonia (NH3)
Reactions producing ammonia
1. NaOH + ammonium salt (both solution) + warm
2. NaOH + nitrate solution (both solution) + Al (solid) +warm

● Get ready moist red litmus paper before the reaction

○ Place the moist litmus paper on the white tile
○ Bring the test-tube towards closer rather than keeping the litmus paper at the
mouth of the test-tube
○ Don’t insert the litmus paper into the test-tube, place it at the mouth of the
test-tube (ensure that it doesn’t touch the side of test-tube)

● Pungent smell (fan the gas towards your nose)

 Qualitative Analysis
Oxygenproducing
Reactions (O2) oxygen
1. Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2 solution) 2H2O2 → 2H2O + O2
2. Adding MnO2 as catalyst (black powder, small amount)

● Get ready glowing splint before the reaction

 Qualitative Analysis
Chlorine (Cl2)
Reactions producing chlorine
1. Chlorate (I) solution
2. Hydrochloric acid + MnO2 [manganese(IV) oxide]

● Get ready moist blue litmus paper before the reaction

● Yellowish-green gas
● Pungent smell (fan the gas towards your nose)
 Observations for gases
Question Answer
Must we state colour When a gas is evolved during a QA experiment, you will need to state
and smell of gas the following:
e.g. if we test for a ● Effervescence observed
gas that has colour, ● Test for gas
we don’t actually see ● Observation for gas test
the colour while ● Colour & smell of gas
testing but we know ● Conclude identity of gas
the colour in theory
then do we need to Even if we cannot see the colour of gas, we will specify it.
write?
Example:
1. On warming, effervescence observed. Moist blue litmus paper
turns red and is bleached. Gas is pungent and yellowish green.
Gas is chlorine.
2. On warming, effervescence is observed. Lighted splint
extinguished with a ‘pop’ sound. Gas is colourless and odourless.
Gas is hydrogen.
 Qualitative Analysis
All tests gave negative results, how?
Questions Answers
I saw bubbles/effervescence but ALL gas test • Repeat 1 more time
came out negative! • If still all negative, may be there is
really no gas being produced, the
bubbling is from the solution boiling
I have added A LOT of NaOH but still no Group I cations could be present
precipitate formed
 Qualitative Analysis
Application – 2020 O Level QA Practical
test observations for R observations for S
Test 1    
To the sample in the boiling tube,
carefully add dilute nitric acid to a
depth of approximately 6 cm.
Use a glass rod to stir the
mixture. Keep the final solution
for use in Tests 2 – 4.
 
Test 2    
Put 1 cm depth of the solution
from Test 1 in a clean test-tube.
Add aqueous ammonia slowly
with shaking until no further
change is seen.
 
Test 3    
Put 1 cm depth of the solution  
from Test 1 in a clean test-tube.  
Add aqueous sodium hydroxide  
slowly with shaking until no  
further change is seen.  
   
 Qualitative Analysis
Application – 2020 O Level QA Practical
test observations for R observations for S
Test 4    
Put 2 cm depth of the solution
from Test 1 in a clean test-tube.
Add equal volume of aqueous
barium nitrate.
Keep the final solution for us in
Test 5.
 
Test 5    
Filter the contents of the test-
tube from Test 4 into a clean
test-tube. Add an equal volume
of aqueous silver nitrate to the
filtrate.
 
Thank
you