Tests involving the reagent aqueous NaOH solution

TABLE 1. COLOURED SOLUTIONS Ion First addition of reagent Pale green (Fe 2+) Dirty green ppt Reagent in excess Comments

Fe2+ (aq) + 2OH- (aq) Fe(OH)2 (s) Rusty brown ppt Fe3+ (aq) + 3OH- (aq) Fe(OH)3 (s)
Pale blue ppt

No further change, however at the top of the mixture it may turn brown on standing This is due to oxidation of iron(II) hydroxide to iron(III) hydroxide
No further change

Yellow (Fe3+)

Blue (Cu2+)

Bright green (Cr3+)

Cu2+ (aq) + 2OH- (aq) Cu(OH)2 (s) Blue or blue green ppt Cr3+ (aq) + 3OH- (aq) Cr(OH)3 (s) Blue ppt which turns pink on standing Co2+ (aq) + 2OH- (aq) Co(OH)2 (s) White or cream ppt Mn2+ (aq) +2OH(aq) Mn(OH)2 (s)

No further change

Ppt dissolves forming a bright green solution Cr(OH)3 (s) + 3OH- (aq) [Cr(OH)6]3(aq)
No further change

Pink (Co2+)

Pale pink but usually colourless (Mn2+)

No further change, however ppt may turn brown on standing This is due to oxidation of Mn(II) hydroxide to Mn(III)oxide
Reagent in excess No ppt No ppt Comments

TABLE 2. COLOURLESS SOLUTIONS Ion First addition of reagent Ca2+ No ppt NH4+ No ppt

Mg2+ Ba2+ Al3+

On warming, a colourless pungent gas is evolved which turns blue litmus to red NH4+(aq) +OH- (aq) NH3 (g) + H2O(l) White ppt Mg2+ (aq) + 2OH- (aq) Mg(OH)2 (s)
Little or no ppt

No further change No further change

White ppt Al3+ (aq) + 3OH- (aq) Al(OH)3 (s) White ppt Zn2+ (aq) + 2OH- (aq) Zn(OH)2 (s) White ppt Pb2+ (aq) + 2OH- (aq) Pb(OH)2 (s)

Zn2+

Pb2+

Dissolves to form a colourless solution Al(OH)3 (s) + 3OH- (aq) [Al(OH)6]3(aq) Dissolves to form a colourless solution Zn(OH)2 (s) + 2OH- (aq) [Zn(OH)4]2(aq) Dissolves to form a colourless solution Pb(OH)2 (s) + 2OH- (aq) [Pb(OH)4]2(aq)

All three hydroxides of Zn, Al and Pb are amphoteric and form a complex ion:- zincate, aluminate and plumbate respectively.

Tests involving the reagent aqueous ammonia solution

TABLE 3. COLOURED SOLUTIONS Ion First addition of reagent Pale green (Fe 2+) Dirty green ppt Reagent in excess

Fe2+ (aq) + 2OH- (aq) Fe(OH)2 (s) Rusty brown ppt Fe3+ (aq) + 3OH- (aq) Fe(OH)3 (s)
Pale blue ppt

No further change, however at the top of the mixture it may turn brown on standing This is due to oxidation of iron(II) hydroxide to iron(III) hydroxide
No further change

Yellow (Fe3+) Blue (Cu2+) Bright green (Cr3+) Pink (Co2+)

Cu2+ (aq) + 2OH- (aq) Cu(OH)2 (s) Blue or blue green ppt Cr3+ (aq) + 3OH- (aq) Cr(OH)3 (s) Blue ppt which turns pink on standing Co2+ (aq) + 2OH- (aq) Co(OH)2 (s) White or cream ppt Mn2+ (aq) +2OH- (aq) Mn(OH)2 (s)

Pale pink but usually colourless (Mn2+)

Ppt dissolves to give a deep blue solution Cu(OH)2 (s) + 4NH3 (aq) [Cu(NH3)4]2+ (aq) Ppt dissolves forming a royal blue solution Cr(OH)3 (s) + 6NH3 (aq) [Cr(NH3)6]3+ (aq) Ppt dissolves to form a brown solution which then darkens on standing Co(OH)2 (s) + 6NH3 (aq) [Co(NH3)6]2+ (aq) The darkening is due to the oxidation of Co(II) to Co(III) No further change, however ppt may turn brown on standing This is due to oxidation of Mn(II) hydroxide to Mn(III)oxide

TABLE 4. COLOURLESS SOLUTIONS Ion First addition of reagent Ca2+ No ppt NH4+ No ppt Mg2+ White ppt Ba Al3+
2+

Mg2+ (aq) + 2OH- (aq) Mg(OH)2 (s)

Little or no ppt

Reagent in excess No ppt No ppt No further change No further change No further change

Commenets

Zn2+

White ppt Al3+ (aq) + 3OH- (aq) Al(OH)3 (s) White ppt Zn2+ (aq) + 2OH- (aq) Zn(OH)2 (s) White ppt Pb2+ (aq) + 2OH- (aq) Pb(OH)2 (s)

Pb2+

Dissolves to form a colourless solution Zn(OH)2 (s) + 4NH3 (aq) [Zn(NH3)4]2No further change

A complex ion occurs in excess ammonia solution diammine zinc(II) ion

TABLE 5. Tests with various reagents other than sodium hydroxide and aqueous ammonia
Test Observation

Silver nitrate solution in the presence of dilute HCl or HNO3 Then followed by aqueous ammonia

White ppt means ppt dissolves to give a colourless solution Cream ppt
ppt partially dissolves Yellow ppt ppt remains

Inference Cl- present

Comments

Ag+ (aq) + Cl- (aq) AgCl (s) AgCl (s) +2NH3 (aq) [Ag(NH3)2]+ Br- present Ag+ (aq) + Br- (aq) AgBr (s) I- present Ag+ (aq) + I- (aq) AgI (s) SO32- or SO42- present SO32- present SO32- (aq) + 2H+ (aq) SO2(g) + H2O (l) SO42- present Pb2+ Pb2+ (aq) + 2Cl(aq) PbCl2 (s)

Partial dissolution is observed by carefully looking at the amount of ppt before and after addition of the aqueous ammonia. This is usually difficult to discern but the colour of the ppt and fact that it does NOT totally dissolve in aqueous ammonia would allow one to make the distinction between chloride and bromide ions.

Barium chloride or barium nitrate solution Then followed by dilute HCl or HNO3 Addition of HCl or any source of chloride ions sometimes an additional test may be to warm the mixture if a ppt is formed and then allow to cool Addition of aqueous potassium iodide solution sometimes an additional test may be to warm the mixture if a ppt is formed and then allow to cool Conc. sulphuric acid to a solid halide e.g. sodium chloride, sodium bromide, sodium iodide

White ppt ppt dissolves to give a colourless solution

ppt remains

Dilute nitric or hydrochloric acid must be present to prevent the precipitation of carbonates.

White ppt ppt dissolves fully when mixture is warmed and recrystallises to form needle shaped crystals when cool
Bright yellow ppt

lead(II) chloride is more soluble in hot water than cold water. Therefore one would see a total reduction in the amount of ppt present when mixture is warmed. As it cools, crystallization occurs and the true shape of the crystals are seen. NB lead(II) bromide gives a similar observation but it is only partially soluble in hot water while lead(II) chloride is completely soluble in hot water lead(II) iodide is more soluble in hot water than cold water. A partial reduction in the amount of ppt present when mixture is warmed would be seen. As it cools, crystallization occurs and the true shape of the crystals are seen. Often the crystals exhibit a glittery effect.

Pb2+ Pb2+ (aq) + 2I- (aq) PbI2 (s)

Red-brown solution which may have black particles.

Potassium iodide is a reducing agent and if a colour change is seen, then a redox reaction has occurred and the sample has oxidizing properties. Cl- present Gas is acidic Gas is hydrogen chloride displacement of hydrogen chloride by sulphuric acid NaCl + H2SO4 HCl + NaHSO4 Br- present Bromide ions are strong reducing agents and a redox reaction occurs and bromine is produced gas is acidic and it also bleaches which implies the

Vigourous effervescence white mixture Colourless, pungent gas Turns blue litmus red

Concentrated sulphuric acid is a powerful oxidizing agent

Vigourous effervescence orange/red mixture

brown, pungent gas Turns blue litmus red then white

halogen is being produced H2SO4 + 2H+ + 2Br- Br2 + SO2 + 2H2O I- present Iodide ions are strong reducing agents and a redox reaction occurs and iodine is produced gas is acidic and it also bleaches which implies the halogen is being produced H2SO4 + 8H+ + 8I- 4I2 + H2S + 4H2O Since acidified potassium manganate is an oxidizing agent, the sample tested must have reducing properties Since acidified potassium dichromate is an oxidizing agent, the sample tested must have reducing properties Gas produced sample must be either a carbonate or a sulphite Sample must be either an oxide or hydroxide Gas is basic Gas is ammonia NO3- ion present 3NO3- + 8Al + 5OH + 18H2O 3NH3 + 8[Al(OH)4] Gas is acidic NO2 gas produced (brown gas) NO3- ion present
3Cu(s) + 8HNO3(aq) --> 3Cu(NO3)2(aq) + 2NO(g) + 4H2O(l)

Vigourous effervescence deep purple/black mixture purple, pungent gas Turns blue litmus red then white Addition of acidified potassium manganate solution Addition of acidified potassium dichromate solution Addition of dilute acid to a solid sample either dilute HCl or HNO3 Addition of Devardas alloy to sample in presence of NaOH solution and warm Addition of conc H2SO4with copper turnings present and warm Decolourisation i.e. from purple to colourless Goes from orange to green

Effervescence Solid dissolves No effervescence Solid dissolves Effervescence Colourless, pungent gas evolved turns red litmus blue Effervescence Blue-green solution Brown, pungent gas evolved Turns blue litmus red Brown ring is formed

The conc sulphuric acid reacts with the nitrate ion to form nitric acid. The nitric acid then reacts with the copper turning to form nitrogen monoxide which is oxidized to nitrogen dioxide

Addition of freshly prepared iron(II) sulphate solution or crystals and then add conc H2SO4slowly

NO3- + 3Fe2+ + 4H+ 3Fe3+ + NO + 2H2O [Fe(H2O)6]2+ + NO [Fe(H2O)5(NO)]2+ (brown ring)

NO3- present