Testing for cations

Cations can be identified by their reactions with aqueous sodium hydroxide and aqueous ammonia
A precipitate is an insoluble solid.
When testing for cations, these precipitates only form when a metal ion in solution joins with hydroxide ions in
solution to form an insoluble metal hydroxide
o eg Cu2+ + 2OH- --> Cu(OH)2 (blue copper(II) hydroxide precipitate)

Add dilute NaOH Add excess dilute Add dilute aqueous NH3 Add excess dilute aqueous
Cation
(5 drops) NaOH (5 drops) NH3
ppt dissolves white ppt of aluminium
Al3+ white ppt of aluminium hydroxide ppt insoluble
colourless solution hydroxide

Ca2+ white ppt of calcium hydroxide ppt insoluble no reaction no reaction

blue ppt of copper(II) ppt dissolves

Cu2+ blue ppt of copper(II) hydroxide ppt insoluble
hydroxide deep blue solution
dirty green ppt of iron(II)
Fe2+ dirty green ppt of iron(II) hydroxide ppt insoluble ppt insoluble
hydroxide
red-brown ppt of iron(III)
Fe3+ red-brown ppt of iron(III) hydroxide ppt insoluble ppt insoluble
hydroxide
ppt dissolves white ppt of lead(II)
Pb2+ white ppt of lead(II) hydroxide ppt insoluble
colourless solution hydroxide
ppt dissolves white ppt of zinc ppt dissolves
Zn2+ white ppt of zinc hydroxide
colourless solution hydroxide colourless solution
ammonia gas is produced on warming
with dilute NaOH. This gas has a
NH4+ - no reaction -
pungent smell and turns moist red
litmus paper blue

1. Copper(II) is blue; Iron (II) is green; Iron (III) is reddish brown; the rest form white precipitate and if soluble in excess,
becomes colourless solution;
2. Zinc(Zn), aluminium(Al), and lead (Pb) form precipitates that are soluble in excess sodium hydroxide [ or you can
remember it as ZAP dissolves in excess NaOH];
3. Copper(II) and zinc ions form precipitates that are soluble in excess aqueous ammonia;
4. Ammonium and calcium form no precipitate when aqueous ammonia is added;
5. Test for ammonium ion is slightly different (you add sodium hydroxide, and heat. Ammonia gas is evolved if
ammonium ions are present).
6. [Lead(II) ions can be distinguished from aluminium ions by the insolubility of lead(II) chloride.]

Colours of some metal hydroxides

Metal hydroxide Colour

calcium hydroxide white
copper(II) hydroxide light blue
iron(II) hydroxide green
iron(III) hydroxide red-brown
lead(II) hydroxide white
zinc hydroxide white
Testing for anions

Anion Test Test result

Carbonate (CO32-) Add dilute acid Effervescence, carbon dioxide produced

Chloride (Cl-) Acidify with dilute nitric acid, then add aqueous silver
White ppt
(in solution) nitrate
Iodide (I-) Acidify with dilute nitric acid, then add aqueous lead(II)
Yellow ppt
(in solution) nitrate
nitrate (NO3-) Add aqueous sodium hydroxide, then aluminium foil, warm
Ammonia produced
(in solution) carefully
Sulfate (SO42-) Acidify with dilute nitric acid, then add aqueous barium
White ppt
(in solution) nitrate

Testing for gases

If gas is produced from a solution, describe it this way:

o Effervescence of (colour), (smell) gas, (effect on damp litmus paper), distinguishing test.
o e.g. Effervescence of colourless, odourless gas, has no effect on both damp blue and red litmus paper.
Relights a glowing splint. [for oxygen]
If a gas is produced from a solid, you will not see any bubbles, so describe this way:
o (colour), (smell) gas, (effect on damp litmus paper), distinguishing test.
a. Identify A to F.
b. Write an ionic equation (with state symbols) for the formation of the yellow precipitate.
c. Describe a test for the pungent gas R.
d. Pungent gas R dissolves in water to form a solution. Describe the observations when a few drops of
copper(II) sulphate solution is added to the solution.

In the experiment shown below, the gas X produced by the action of dilute sulphuric acid on the zinc granules
was passed over two heated metallic oxides. A colourless liquid W was collected and the excess gas X was
burnt off at Y.

a. What is gas X? Write the ionic equation for the formation of the gas.
b. State what is observed of:
i. zinc oxide
ii. copper(II) oxide
Write equation(s) for any change observed.
c. Explain your observation made in bi and bii.
d. Give a chemical test to identify liquid W.
e. Suggest a suitable drying agent to be placed inside the drying bulb.
f. Why was the excess gas X burnt off at Y?
g. What precautions should be taken before the excess gas was lit?