CSEC Notes

Qualitative Analysis

Identification of Cations in solution

Bases such as sodium hydroxide solution and aqueous Ammonia can be used to identify cations
in solution, because metal hydroxide has particular solubilities, metal ions also form complexes
with ammonia.
Using sodium hydroxide solution

The reagent is added dropwise to see if a precipitate is produced then in excess to see if the
precipitate dissolves

Test Observations Inference

No precipitate is formed Na+, K+, or NH4+ is present

Warm mixture and test for gas produced NH4+ is present

using red litmus if it turns blue

Blue precipitate Cu2+ ions present

Insoluble in excess

Using Dirty green precipitate Fe2+ ions present

NaOH Precipitate is insoluble in excess

Red brown precipitate Fe3+ ions present

Precipitate is insoluble in excess

White precipitate produced Ca2+, Zn2+, Pb2+, Al3+ ions present

White precipitite is insoluble in excess Ca2+ ions present

White precipitate is soluble in excess Zn2+, Pb2+, Al3+ ions present

Prepared by Chad Clarke

Cornwall College- 2023
 Using aqueous ammonia
Test Observations Inference

No precipitate is formed Na+, K+, Ca2+ or NH4+ is present

Warm mixture and test for gas produced NH4+ is present

using red litmus if it turns blue

Blue precipitate Cu2+ ions present

Using soluble in excess to a deep blue solution
Aqueous
ammonia Dirty green precipitate Fe2+ ions present
Precipitate is insoluble in excess

Red brown precipitate Fe3+ ions present

Precipitate is insoluble in excess

White precipitate produced Zn2+, Pb2+, Al3+ ions present

White precipitate is insoluble in excess Pb2+, Al3+ ions present

White precipitate is soluble in excess Zn2+ions present

Using Potassium iodide

potassium iodide is used to distinguish between , Pb2+, Al3+ ions.

Test Observation Inference

Using Yellow precipitate Pb2+ ions present

KI
No precipitate Al3+ ions present

Prepared by Chad Clarke

Cornwall College- 2023
 Identifying anions in solution

I. Some anions can be identified by heating their solid compounds

Eg. Carbonates (CO32-) when heated they produce carbon dioxide gas. this produces a
white precipitate with lime water (Ca(OH)2)
Nitrates produce oxygen gas which rekindles a glowing splint (this is only for Na+, K+,
nitrates)
Nitrogen dioxide (NO2(g)) which is a brown gas is produced from calcium and metals
below calcium in the reactivity series nitrates

II. Adding dilute acid to a solid sample of the compound (any dilute acid)
Carbonates (CO32-)- effervescence gas evolve to give a white precipitate with lime
water
Sulphite (SO32-)- effervescence. Gas will decolourize acidified potassium permanganate
or change acidified dichromate ions from orange to green- this gas is sulphur dioxide
(SO2)

III. Using concentrated H2,SO4- This can be used to identify carbonates, sulphites, chlorides,
bromide and iodide ion by adding the concentrated acid to the solid sample containing the
anions
For CO32-, and SO32- it is the same as with dilute acid
Cl- - colourless HCl(g) - acidic test with damp litmus paper or
using concentrated aqueous ammonia- a dense white fume

Br- - Br2 (g) orange vapour evolves

I- - Black solid deposits or purple vapour evolves

Prepared by Chad Clarke

Cornwall College- 2023
 Anions in solution

I. Using silver nitrate solution followed by aqueous ammonia

Anion AgNO3 Dilute NH3

Cl- White precipitate turns purple-grey Dissolves to give colourless

in sunlight solution

Br- White, off white, cream, pale Insoluble (soluble in

yellow precipitate, turns yellowish concentrated ammonia solution
green in sunlight only)

I- Yellow precipitate Insoluble in dilute and

concentrated ammonia

II. Using barium nitrate followed by dilute nitric acid or barium chloride followed by
hydrochloric acid

Anion AgNO3 Dilute NH3

CO32- White precipitate Precipitate dissolves to give a

colourless solution. Gas evolved
gives a white preciptate with
lime water

SO32- White precipitate Precipitate dissolve and SO2(g) is

given off which decolourised
acidified permanganate and
changes dichromate ions from
orange to green

SO42- White precipitate Insoluble

To test for NO3- in solution

Add copper turnings to the nitrate ions followed by concentrated sulphuric acid and warm gently

Prepared by Chad Clarke

Cornwall College- 2023
 Identification of Gasses

Gas Properties Testing

Hydrogen gas (H2) Colourless, odourless Place a lit splint in the gas, if a popping
sound is there H2 gas is present
H2(g) + O2(g) → H2O(g)

Oxygen gas (O2) Colourless, odourless Place a glowing splint in the gas and if it
gets brighter or rekindles O2 is present

Carbon Dioxide gas Colourless, odourless Bubble the gas in lime water (Ca(OH)2)
(CO2) and if a white precipitate is produced
carbon dioxide is present
Ca(OH)2(aq) + CO2(g) → CaCO3(S) + H2O(l)
CaCOH3(S) + H2O(l) + CO2(g) → CaHCO3(aq)

In precipitate redissolves in excess

Ammonia Gas Colourless with pungent Hold a moist red litmus paper in the gas
(NH3) odour and if the litmus turn blue ammonia gas is
present
OR
NH3(g) + HCl(g) → NH4Cl(s)

Put a drop of concentrated HCl on a glass

rod near the gas if white fumes are
produced ammonia is present

Hydrogen Chloride Colourless gas with a NH3(g) + HCl(g) → NH4Cl(s)

gas (HCl) sharp acidic smell
Put a drop of concentrated NH4Cl on a
glass rod near the gas if white fumes are
produced Hydrogen Chloride gas is
present

Sulphur dioxide A colourless gas with a Bubble the gas in acidified potassium
(SO2) shocking smell permanganate and if the solution changes
from purple to colourless then SO2 is
present. If dichromate is used the solution
goes from orange to green

Chlorine gas Poisonous, yellow green Hold a piece of moist blue litmus in the
(Cl2) gas gas and if it turns red and then is bleached
white chlorine gas is present
H2O(l) + Cl2(g) → HCl(l) +HOCl(aq)

Prepared by Chad Clarke

Cornwall College- 2023
 HOCl(aq) is chloric (I) acid

The HOCl oxidizes the litmus to

colourless

Water vapour Colourless, odourless Place a piece of cobalt (II) chloride paper
(H2O(g)) gas in the gas. if the paper changes on Blue to
pink water vapor is present
CoCl2( s ) (blue) + 2 H2O(l) → CoCl2 . 2H2O(s)
Pink
OR
Pump the gas onto anhydrous copper
sulphate and if it turns from white to blue
the gas is water vapour

Nitrogen dioxide Toxic brown gas with a The colour can be used to identify the gas
(NO2) sharp irritating odour OR
Place a piece of blue litmus in the gas if it
turns red and is not bleached by the brown
gas NO2 is present

Prepared by Chad Clarke

Cornwall College- 2023