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CIE IGCSE Chemistry: Co- Your notes

ordinated Sciences (Double Award)
Identification of Ions & Gases
Contents
Identification of Anions
Identification of Cations
Identification of Gases

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Identification of Anions
Your notes
Identification of anions
Negatively charged non-metal ions are known as anions
You must be able to describe the tests for the following ions:
Carbonate ions, CO32–
Halide ions, Cl– , Br– , I–
Nitrate ions, NO3–
Sulfate ions, SO42–
Sulfite ions, SO32–
Test for carbonate ions
Carbonate compounds contain the carbonate ion, CO32-
The test for the carbonate ion is:
Add dilute acid
Bubble the gas released through limewater
Limewater turns cloudy if the carbonate ion is present
If a carbonate compound is present then fizzing / effervescence should be seen as CO2 gas is
produced, which forms a white precipitate of calcium carbonate when bubbled through limewater:
CO32- (aq) + 2H+ (aq) → CO2 (g) + H2O (l)
CO2 (g) + Ca(OH)2 (aq) → CaCO3(s) + H2O(l)
The white precipitate turns limewater cloudy
Testing for carbonate ions

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Your notes

Limewater turns milky in the presence of carbon dixoide caused by the formation of insoluble calcium
carbonate

Examiner Tip
If you are asked to describe the test for carbonate ions, make sure that you say:
Bubble the gas produced through limewater, which turns cloudy if the carbonate ion is
present
Just saying that limewater turns cloudy is not enough
This isn't describing the test, it is stating the result

Test for halide ions

Halide ions are the negative ions / anions formed by the elements in Group 7
The test for the halide ions is:
Acidify the sample with nitric acid
Add silver nitrate solution, AgNO3,
A silver halide precipitate forms if a halide ion is present
The precipitate is indicated by the state symbol (s)
The colour of the silver halide precipitate depends on the halide ion:
The chloride ion forms a white precipitate of silver chloride
potassium chloride + silver nitrate → potassium nitrate + silver chloride
KCl (aq) + AgNO3 (aq) → KNO3 (aq) + AgCl (s)
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The bromide ion forms a cream precipitate of silver bromide

potassium bromide + silver nitrate → potassium nitrate + silver bromide
Your notes
KBr (aq) + AgNO3 (aq) → KNO3 (aq) + AgBr (s)
The iodide ions forms a yellow precipitate of silver iodide
potassium iodide + silver nitrate → potassium nitrate + silver iodide
KI (aq) + AgNO3 (aq) → KNO3 (aq) + AgI (s)
Testing for halide ions

Each silver halide produces a precipitate of a different colour

Examiner Tip
The acidification step in the halide ion test must be done with nitric acid rather than hydrochloric acid.
HCl contains the chloride ion which would interfere with the results.

Test for nitrate ions

Nitrate compounds contain the nitrate ion, NO3–

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The test for the nitrate ion is

Add aqueous NaOH and aluminium foil
Warm gently and test the gas released Your notes
The gas given off is ammonia, NH3
Ammonia is a gas with a characteristic sharp choking smell that turns damp red litmus paper blue

Test for sulfate ions

Sulfate compounds contain the sulfate ion, SO42-
The test for the sulfate ion is:
Acidify the sample with dilute hydrochloric acid
Add a few drops of barium chloride solution
A white precipitate of barium sulfate is formed, if the sulfate ion is present
Ba2+ (aq) + SO42- (aq) → BaSO4 (s)
The test can also be carried out with barium nitrate solution
Testing for sulfate ions

A white precipitate of barium sulfate is a positive result for the presence of sulfate ions

Examiner Tip
HCl is added first to remove any carbonates which may be present which would also produce a
precipitate and interfere with the results.

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Examiner Tip
Your notes
For qualitative inorganic analysis, there will be one test for the metal cation and another test for the
non-metal anion.
If you are an extended level student you may be asked to write balanced ionic equations for cation and
anions tests, so make sure you know the formulae of all the ions and precipitates formed.

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Identification of Cations
Your notes
Identification of cations
Test for ammonium ions
Ammonium ions, NH4+, can be identified by gently warming a solution containing the ions with sodium
hydroxide solution
The sodium hydroxide solution is a source of hydroxide ions, OH–, for the test
This releases ammonia gas which turns damp red litmus paper blue
Testing for ammonium ions

Heating ammonium ions with sodium hydroxide solution releases ammonia gas which turns damp red
litmus blue

Metal cations in aqueous solution can be identified by the colour of the precipitate they form on
addition of sodium hydroxide and ammonia
Most transition metals produce hydroxides with distinctive colours
Test for metal ions with sodium hydroxide solution
If a small amount of sodium hydroxide solution is used, the resulting metal hydroxide normally
precipitates out of solution
If excess sodium hydroxide solutionis used, some of the precipitates may re-dissolve

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For this reason, just a few drops of sodium hydroxide solutionare added at first and very slowly
The sodium hydroxide test for the metal ion is:
Add a few drops of sodium hydroxide solution Your notes
Record any colour changes or precipitates formed
Add excess sodium hydroxide solution
Record any colour changes or changes to precipitates
Metal ions with NaOH results

Metal Ion Addition of 2-3 drops of NaOH Addition of excess NaOH

Ca2+ White precipitate forms Precipitate does not dissolve

Cu2+ Light blue precipitate forms Precipitate does not dissolve

Fe2+ Green precipitate forms Precipitate does not dissolve

Fe3+ Brown precipitate forms Precipitate does not dissolve

Precipitate dissolves to form a colourless

Zn2+ White precipitate forms
solution

Test for metal ions with ammonia solution

If a small amount of ammonia solution is used, the resulting metal hydroxide normally precipitates out
of solution
If excess ammonia solution is used, some of the precipitates may re-dissolve
For this reason, just a few drops of ammonia solution are added at first and very slowly
The ammonia test for the metal ion is:
Add a few drops of ammonia solution
Record any colour changes or precipitates formed
Add excess ammonia solution
Record any colour changes or changes to precipitates
Metal ions with ammonia results
Metal Ion Addition of 2-3 drops of ammonia Addition of excess ammonia

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Al3+ White precipitate forms Precipitate does not dissolve

Your notes

Ca2+ Very faint white precipitate forms Precipitate does not dissolve

Cr3+ Grey-green precipitate forms Precipitate does not dissolve

Precipitate dissolves to form a dark blue

Cu2+ Light blue precipitate forms
solution

Fe2+ Green precipitate forms Precipitate does not dissolve

Fe3+ Brown precipitate forms Precipitate does not dissolve

Precipitate dissolves to form a colourless

Zn2+ White precipitate forms
solution

Analysing results
The tables above contain the results for all metal cations included in the syllabus
If a precipitate is formed from either sodium hydroxide or ammonia solution, then the hydroxide is
insoluble in water
For example, zinc chloride:
ZnCl2 (aq) + 2NaOH (aq) → Zn(OH)2 (s) + 2NaCl (aq)
There are 3 metal ions that all form white precipitates:
Aluminium ions, Al3+
Calcium ions, Ca2+
Zinc ions, Zn2+
Calcium ions, Ca2+, can be easily distinguished from Zn2+ and Al3+
The white precipitate of calcium hydroxide does not dissolve in excess sodium hydroxide solution
The white precipitates of zinc hydroxide and aluminium hydroxide dissolve in excess sodium
hydroxide solution
Zinc ions, Zn2+, can then be distinguished from Al3+ ions as
The white precipitate of zinc hydroxide dissolves in excess ammonia solution
The white precipitate of aluminium hydroxide does not dissolve in excess ammonia solution

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Examiner Tip
Your notes
The ammonia or sodium hydroxide solution must be added very slowly. If it is added too quickly and
the precipitate is soluble in excess, then you run the risk of missing the formation of the initial
precipitate, which dissolves as quickly as it forms if excess solution is added.
Be sure to distinguish between the term “colourless” and “clear”. A solution that loses its colour has
become colourless. A clear solution is one that you can see through such as water. Solutions can be
clear and have colour eg. dilute copper sulphate.

Flame tests for metal ions

The flame test is used to identify the metal cations by the colour of the flame they produce
Ions from different metals produce different colours
Dip the loop of an unreactive metal wire such as nichrome or platinum in concentrated acid and then
hold it in the blue flame of a Bunsen burner until there is no colour change
This is an important step as the test will only work if there is just one type of ion present
Two or more ions means the colours will mix, making identification erroneous
This cleans the wire loop and avoids contamination
A small sample of the compound is placed on an unreactive metal wire loop such as nichrome or
platinum
Dip the loop into the solid sample / solution and place it in the edge of the blue Bunsen flame
Avoid letting the wire get so hot that it glows red otherwise this can be confused with a flame
colour

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Your notes

Diagram showing the technique for carrying out a flame test

The colour of the flame is observed and used to identify the metal ion present:
Cation Flame Colour

Li+ Crimson

Na+ Yellow

K+ Lilac

Cu2+ Blue-green

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Your notes

Metal ions form distinctive coloured flames

Examiner Tip
The sample needs to be heated strongly, so the Bunsen burner flame should be on a blue flame.

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Identification of Gases
Your notes
Identification of gases
Several tests for anions and cations produce gases which then need to be tested
The gases included in the syllabus are:
Ammonia
Carbon dioxide
Chlorine
Hydrogen
Oxygen

Test for ammonia

Ammonia is a gas with a characteristic sharp choking smell that turns damp red litmus paper blue
Hold the litmus paper near the mouth of the test tube, but be careful to avoid touching the sides of the
test tube
If you are testing for ammonia produced from ammonium ions and sodium hydroxide, avoiding
touching the sides to prevent traces of sodium hydroxide from also turning the red litmus paper blue
Testing for ammonia gas

Damp red litmus paper turns blue in the presence of ammonia

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Examiner Tip
Your notes
Make sure you understand the difference between ammonium and ammonia.
Ammonium refers to the aqueous cation, NH4+
Ammonia refers to the gas, NH3.

Test for carbon dioxide

The test for carbon dioxide involves bubbling the gas through an aqueous solution
of limewater (calcium hydoxide)
If the gas is carbon dioxide, the limewater turns cloudy white
Testing for carbon dioxide gas

Limewater turns cloudy white in the presence of carbon dioxide

Examiner Tip
Sometimes students think that extinguishing a burning splint indicates carbon dioxide gas.
However, while it is a property of carbon dioxide, other gases, such as nitrogen, will also do this.
So, the test is not definitive and should not be given as an exam answer.

Test for chlorine gas

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The test for chlorine makes use of litmus paper

If chlorine gas is present, damp blue litmus paper will turn red and then be bleached white
It turns red initially as acids are produced when chlorine comes into contact with water Your notes
Chlorine also has a characteristic sharp, choking smell
Chlorine should always be handled in a fume cupboard due to its toxicity
Testing for chlorine gas

Chlorine bleaches damp blue litmus paper white

Examiner Tip
You should distinguish between properties of gases and tests for gases. Chlorine 'smells like
swimming pools' is a characteristic, but it is not an acceptable means of identification.

Test for hydrogen gas

The test for hydrogen consists of holding a burning splint at the open end of a test tube of gas

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If the gas is hydrogen it burns with a loud “squeaky pop” which is the result of the rapid combustion of
hydrogen with oxygen to produce water
Be sure not to insert the splint right into the tube, just at the mouth, as the gas needs air to burn Your notes
Testing for hydrogen gas

A burning splint gives a 'squeaky pop' sound

Examiner Tip
It is easy to confuse the tests for hydrogen and oxygen.
Try to remember that a ligHted splint has an H for Hydrogen, while a glOwing splint has an O for
Oxygen.

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Test for oxygen

The test for oxygen consists of placing a glowing splint inside a test tube of gas Your notes
If the gas is oxygen, the splint will relight
Testing for oxygen gas

A glowing splint will relight in the presence of oxygen

Examiner Tip
Sometimes the splint does not relight, but it glows very brightly, which is also a positive result. In an
exam, however, it is best to state it relights the glowing splint.

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