AGS AS CHEMISTRY NAME:

Introduction to Identification of Ions

Section One: Dissolution

Dissolving is the process in which solvent molecules such as water surround solute particles such as
ions (like those in salt) or molecules (like those in sugar). They surround them because they are
attracted to them. The attraction occurs because the water molecule is polar. The oxygen in the water
molecule is slightly negatively charged and so it is attracted towards positive ions and molecules which
have a slightly positive region on them. The two hydrogen atoms in the water molecule are slightly
positively charged and so are attracted to negative ions or molecules with slightly negatively charged
parts. The surrounding is called solvating.

When two ionic aqueous solutions are mixed together it is possible that a precipitate will form. This
depends on the solubility of the possible combinations of ions. If a particular combination of a positive
and negative ion is insoluble then a precipitate can form. Of course two positive ions or two negative ions
cannot form a precipitate with each other.

Pb(NO3)2(aq) + 2KI(aq)  PbI2(s) + 2KNO3(aq)

In the reaction above the two solutions are mixed and a precipitate of lead iodide is formed. The state
symbols are very important in these types of equations, they MUST be included.

Another representation of this reaction can be shown:

Pb2+(aq) + 2I-(aq)  PbI2(s)

In this equation only the particles that reacted are shown, the others are left out. The ions left out are
called spectator ions – they remain floating around in solution throughout the reaction and have no effect
on it at all. This type of equation is called an ionic equation.

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Section Two: Solubility

To work out which possible combination of ions is insoluble you must know your solubility rules. The only
way to learn these is by repetition. Do this often if you want to succeed in this topic.

1. All nitrates, sodium, potassium and ammonium salts are soluble.

2. All chlorides, bromides and iodides except those of Pb2+, Cu+ and Ag+ are soluble.
3. The carbonates, phosphates and sulfides of the alkali metals are soluble, the rest are insoluble.
4. Most sulfates are soluble, Ca2+ and Pb2+ are not Ag+ and Ba2+ are slightly soluble.
5. The hydroxides of the alkali metals are soluble, those of Ca2+, Sr2+ and Ba2+ are slightly soluble,
and the remainder are insoluble.
6. The oxides of the alkali + alkaline earth metals (except Be2+ and Mg2+) react with water and give
hydroxides, the rest are insoluble.

NO3- Cl- Br- SO42- CO32- OH- O2- I-

Ammonium w.sol w.sol w.sol w.sol w.sol - - w.sol
Sodium w.sol w.sol w.sol w.sol w.sol w.sol w.hyd w.sol
Potassium w.sol w.sol w.sol w.sol w.sol w.sol w.hyd w.sol
Magnesium w.sol w.sol w.sol w.sol w.insol w.insol w.insol w.sol
Aluminium w.sol w.sol w.sol w.sol - w.insol w.insol bn.hyd
Zinc w.sol w.sol w.sol w.sol w.insol w.insol w.insol w.sol
Calcium w.sol w.sol w.sol w.insol w.insol w.spsol w.hyd w.sol
Copper(II) bl.so bl.sol bk.sol bl.sol g.insol bl.insol bk.insol -
l
Silver w.sol w.insol w.insol w.sps w.insol - bn.insol y.insol
ol
Iron(II) g.sol y.sol g.sol g.sol gy.insol g.insol bk.insol gy.insol
Iron(III) v.sol bn.hyd r.hyd y.sol - bn.insol r.insol -
Lead w.sol w.sps w.sps w.insol w.insol w.insol bn.insol y.insol
ol ol

Key: w = white, bl = blue, g = green, bk = black, y = yellow, gy = grey, v = violet, bn = brown, r = red.
sol = soluble, insol = insoluble, spsol = sparingly soluble, - = does not exist or immediately decomposes

Some compounds do not exist due to the cation being a strong enough oxidant to oxidise the anion.

Eg. FeI3 = 2Fe3+(aq) + 2I-(aq)  2Fe2+(aq) + I2(g)

The compounds that do not exist are shown by a – in the box.

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Questions
1. For the following pairs of solutions state whether a precipitate would be formed when they are
mixed. If a precipitate is formed give its formula, name and colour. Write an ionic equation for the
reaction that occurs. For the first two pairs of solutions the problem has been done for you.

Solution 1 Solution 2 Is a ppt Formula, name

formed? & colour of ppt Ionic Equation

Silver Sodium yes AgCl, silver Ag+(aq) + Cl-(aq)  AgCl(s)

Nitrate chloride chloride, white

Sodium Copper (II)

Nitrate chloride

Copper (II) Sodium

chloride carbonate

Sodium Calcium
carbonate chloride

Iron (III) Ammonium

nitrate hydroxide

Ammonium Calcium
hydroxide nitrate

Calcium Sodium
nitrate iodide

Sodium Magnesium
iodide nitrate

Magnesium Sodium
nitrate sulfate

Sodium Copper (II)

bromide nitrate

Copper (II) Sodium

nitrate hydroxide

Sodium Iron (III)

hydroxide nitrate

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Section Three: Testing For Ions In Solution

Solubility rules and precipitation reactions are often used to detect and identify the presence of certain
cations and anions in solution. The procedures used are a form of qualitative analysis, since they are
concerned with finding out which ions are present.
If no precipitate – add
Identification of Cations no NaOH and warm. Test any
gas produced with damp red
Add a few drops of Check to see if a litmus.
dilute NaOH. precipitate forms
Litmus No Change
yes blue
Na+ or Ba2+ present.
Observe colour NH4+ is
Add dil H2SO4
of precipitate. present

A white ppt of
BaSO4 forms, Ba2+ No ppt forms, Na+
ions are present. ions are present.

White Green Orange/brown Pale blue Brown

Could be Mg2+, Fe(OH)2 ppt Fe(OH)3 ppt Cu(OH)2 ppt Ag2O ppt
Al3+, Zn2+ or indicates Fe2+ indicates Fe3+ indicates Cu2+ indicates Ag+
Pb2+. present. present. Add present. Add present. Add
SCN- Ions NH3 to excess NH3 to excess

Blood red solution Dark blue solution ppt dissolves, clear

of [FeSCN]2+ forms of [Cu(NH3)4]2+ solution, [Ag(NH3)2]+
forms
Add excess Observe to see if White ppt is Mg(OH)2,
NaOH to the ppt. ppt dissolves. Mg2+ ions are present.
no
yes

Ppt could be Al3+, Zn2+ or Pb2+. If a ppt forms and dissolves Zn2+
Take a fresh sample and slowly ions are present. [Zn(NH3)4]2+
add ammonia solution. forms.

If a ppt forms and does not dissolve in excess A white ppt of PbSO4
either Al3+ or Pb2+ are present. Add dilute H2SO4 forms, Pb2+ ions are present.
to a fresh sample of the unknown.

No ppt indicates that Al3+ ions are present.

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 Testing for Anions

Test unknown No change to litmus, SO42-, Cl-, I- or White ppt of

solution with red NO3- present. Add HNO3 and BaCl2 BaSO4
litmus paper. to a fresh sample of the unknown. indicates SO42-
ions present.

Litmus turns blue. No gas evolved. OH-

CO32- or OH- present. Confirm by
present. Add dilute No ppt. Cl-, I- or NO3- present.
adding Fe3+ ions to Add dilute HNO3 and AgNO3
HNO3 to the form a brown ppt.
solution. solution to a fresh sample.

Fizzes and a gas released

CO32- present. Confirm
this by bubbling the gas
through limewater + Pale yellow ppt No ppt
seeing it go cloudy. White ppt
AgI fomed NO3- ions are
AgCl formed indicating I- present.
indicating Cl- ions. This is
ions. This will insoluble in
redissolve in ammonia.
dilute
ammonia.

Questions
1. A colourless solution gives a white precipitate when treated with dilute nitric acid and aqueous silver
nitrate. Aqueous sodium hydroxide is added to a fresh sample of the original solution and a white
precipitate forms which is soluble in excess of the sodium hydroxide.
a. What anion is most likely present?
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b. Write an ionic equation for the formation of the white precipitate.
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c. What cation is most likely present?
___________________________________________________________________________
d. Write a balanced ionic equation for the formation of the white precipitate with aqueous sodium
hydroxide.

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e. Write a balanced ionic equation for the white precipitate, formed in d), redissolving in excess
sodium hydroxide solution.

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CIE Practical Examination
You must know how to test for different cations and anions. In the practical exam tables are provided for
you to carry out tests but prior knowledge of these tests assist you in completing tasks on time.

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Auckland Grammar School Chemistry Department 7
 Glossary

Bung – A piece of laboratory equipment used to seal a test tube/boiling tube.

Complex ion – Central metal atom or ion surrounded by an unexpected or unusual number of bonded
groups (ligands).
Delivery tube – A piece of laboratory equipment used to transfer a gaseous product.
Dissolve – l process of separating the particles in a solid or liquid and forming a solution.
Excess – A lot.
Gelatinous – A jelly like precipitate.
Insoluble – Unable to dissolve in a particular solvent.
Ionic equation – An equation showing just the reacting particles, the spectator ions are left out of the
equation.
Ligand – A group attached to a central metal ion in a complex ion.
Precipitate – An insoluble substance (solid) formed when two solutions are mixed.
Qualitative analysis – Identification of what substances are present in an unknown.
Quantitative analysis – Identification of how much of a substance is present in an unknown.
Salt – an ionic compound made up of ions other than H+ and OH-.
Saturated solution – A solution containing the maximum amount of dissolved solute.
Solubility - A measure of the amount of a substance that dissolves in a given amount of solvent.
Soluble – Able to dissolve in a particular solvent.
Solute – The substance that is dissolved into the solvent.
Solution – A mixture of a solvent and any number of solutes.
Solvating – The surrounding of a solute molecule or ion by the solvent molecules.
Solvent – The substance that dissolves the solute.
Spectator ions – Ions that are present but take no part in the reaction.
Suspension – A solid formed by the reaction of two ions which remains suspended throughout the
liquid.

Auckland Grammar School Chemistry Department 8