Tests

Ion Formula Test Observations

Test 1
Heat the solid in a test tube with a
Bunsen burner. Limewater should
turn from
It should decompose producing the colourless to cloudy
oxide and carbon dioxide. E.g. in the presence of
carbon dioxide due
to precipitation of
calcium carbonate.
Test for the gas using limewater
Carbonate CO 3
2- solution.

Vigorous
effervescence.
Limewater should
Test 2
turn from
Add dilute HCl to the solid.
colourless to cloudy
Test for the gas evolved using
in the presence of
limewater solution.
carbon dioxide due
to precipitation of
calcium carbonate.

No precipitate
Test
Hydrogencarbonat forms since calcium
HCO 3
-
Add calcium chloride to a
e hydrogencarbonate
hydrogencarbonate solution.
is soluble.

Test White precipitate of

Sulphate (VI) SO42- Add barium chloride solution acidified barium sulphate
with dilute HCl to the test solution. forms.

Test
Warm the sulphite with dilute HCl. The solution turns
Sulphite SO 3
2-
Test for gases using acidified potassium green.
dichromate(VI) solution (or paper)

Test 1 White steamy

Add concentrated sulphuric acid to the acidic fumes are
solid chloride. seen - HCl fumes.

Test 2
Chloride Cl-
Add dilute nitric acid to a solution of a
chloride to acidify the solution. This White precipitate of
eliminates any carbonates or sulphites. AgCl forms.
Add silver chloride to the solution.
Add dilute ammonia solution. Solid dissolves.

Bromide Br- Test 1 Steamy brownish

Add concentrated sulphuric acid to the acidic fumes are
solid bromide. seen.

Test 2'
Add dilute nitric acid to a solution of a
bromide to acidify the solution. This Cream precipitate
 eliminates any carbonates or sulphites. of AgBr forms.
Add silver nitrate to the solution.
Add concentrated ammonia solution. Solid dissolves.

Purple acidic fumes

Test 1
are seen. The
Add concentrated sulphuric acid to the
mixture turns to a
solid iodide.
brown slurry.

Test 2
Iodide I- Add dilute nitric acid to a solution of a
iodide to acidify the solution. This Yellow precipitate
eliminates any carbonates or sulphites. of AgI forms.

Add silver nitrate to the solution. Solid is insoluble.

Add concentrated ammonia solution.

Test 1
Heat solid nitrate.
Oxygen gas is
If group 1 solid (not Li) then will evolved that will
decompose to give the nitrite and relight a glowing
oxygen. splint.

All other solid nitrates decompose to Brown gas is seen

Nitrate NO3-
give the metal oxide, nitrogen dioxide (NO2). Oxygen gas
and oxygen. is also evolved and
will relight a
glowing splint.

Test 2
Litmus paper turns
Boil nitrate solution with
blue in the
aluminium/Devarda’s alloy, in sodium
presence of
hydroxide solution.
ammonia.
Test vapour with red litmus paper.

Test NH
Warm ammonium compound with 3
Ammonium NH 4
+
NaOH. turns the litmus
Test vapours immediately using paper blue.
damp red litmus paper.

Test
Dip nichrome wire in HCl.

Dip wire in solid.

Lithium Li+
Heat wire in centre of flame.
A carmine red
flame is seen.
Observe colour of flame.

Sodium Na+ Test

Dip nichrome wire in HCl.
 Dip wire in solid.

Heat wire in centre of flame. A yellow flame is

seen.
Observe colour of flame.

Test
Dip nichrome wire in HCl.

Dip wire in solid. A lilac flame is

Potassium K+
seen.
Heat wire in centre of flame.

Observe colour of flame.

A white solid forms

Test which is insoluble
Magnesium Mg2+ Add NaOH solution to the magnesium in excess
solid. NaOH(aq). This is
Mg(OH)2(s)

Test
Dip nichrome wire in HCl.

Dip wire in solid. A brick red flame is

Calcium Ca2+
seen.
Heat wire in centre of flame.

Observe colour of flame.

Test
Dip nichrome wire in HCl.

Dip wire in solid. A crimson red

Strontium Sr2+
flame is seen.
Heat wire in centre of flame.

Observe colour of flame.

Test
Dip nichrome wire in HCl.

Dip wire in solid. A apple green

Barium Ba2+
flame is seen.
Heat wire in centre of flame.

Observe colour of flame.

Name Formula Test Observations

Hydrogen H2 Ignite gas. Squeaky pop is heard.

Place a glowing splint in a

Oxygen O2 The glowing splint relights.
sample of the gas.

Bubble gas through A solution turns from colourless to

Carbon limewater (saturated cloudy. A white (milky) precipitate of
CO2
dioxide solution of calcium calcium carbonate forms which is
hydroxide) sparingly soluble.

Test for gas using damp red

Ammonia NH3 Litmus paper turns blue.
litmus paper.

Test 1
Chlorine bleaches the litmus paper very
Test for gas using damp
quickly.
litmus paper (red or blue)

Test 2
Test for gas using moist The paper turns blue-black.
starch-iodide paper.
Chlorine Cl2
Test 3
The solution turns from colourless to
Pass gas through a solution
orange.
of a bromide.

Test 4 The solution turns from colourless to

Pass gas through a solution brown (possibly with a black
of an iodide. precipitate, iodine).

Nitrogen
NO2 Not many tests for this gas. The gas is brown.
dioxide

Test 1
Bubble gas through a
The solution turns from orange to
solution of potassium
green.
dichromate (VI) dissolved in
sulphuric acid.
Sulphur
SO2
dioxide
Test 2
Bubble gas through a
The solution turns from purple to
solution of potassium
colourless.
manganate (VII) dissolved
in sulphuric acid.
Test for a carbonyl

• Reagents: 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine (2,4-DNPH)

• Observation with a positive test: Orange precipitate when added to a carbonyl

Test for an aldehyde

• Reagents: Fehlings solution 1 and 2

• Observation with a positive test: Red precipitate when reagents are warmed with an

aldehyde

Test for an aldehyde

• Reagents: Tollen's reagent ( dilute ammonia

solution)

• Observation with a positive test: Silver mirror with an aldehyde

Test for an alcohol

• Reagents: PCl5 in dry conditions

• Observation with a positive test: Steamy fumes of HCl gas which turns damp blue

litmus paper red

Test for a carboxylic acid

• Reagents: NaHCO3(aq)

• Observation with a positive test: CO2 gas which turns lime water milky
Test for an alcohol

• Reagents: Na

• Observation with a positive test: H2 gas

Sulphate solubility

If a solution of any sulphate is added to a solution of a group 2 metal compound then a

precipitate is likely.

Group 2 ion in solution Effect of adding a sulphate solution

Mg2+ No precipitate, MgSO4 is soluble

Ca2+ White precipitate of CaSO4

Sr2+ White precipitate of SrSO4

Ba2+ White precipitate of BaSO4

Hydroxide solubility

If sodium hydroxide is added to a solution of a group 2 compound then a precipitate is likely.

Group 2 ion in solution Effect of adding a hydroxide solution

Mg2+ Faint white precipitate of Mg(OH)2

Ca2+ Faint white precipitate of Ca(OH)2

Sr2+ Faint white precipitate of Sr(OH)2 on standing

Ba2+ No precipitate, Ba(OH)2 is soluble

Heating carbonates and nitrates

Substance Effect of heat

Lithium and all group 2 carbonates Carbon dioxide detected

Sodium and potassium carbonates No effect (except water of crystallisation may be given off)

Sodium and potassium nitrates Oxygen only gas evolved

Lithium and all group 2 nitrates Nitrogen dioxide and oxygen evolved

Action of heat on compounds

• Carbonates - Carbon dioxide is given off.

• Hydrogencarbonates - Carbon dioxide and water formed.

• Group 1 nitrates - Nitrite and oxygen formed.

• Group 2 nitrates - Oxide, brown fumes of nitrogen dioxide and oxygen formed.

Distinguishing between hydrocarbons

• Alkane: Burn /oxidise/combust them. They will burn with a yellow flame and form CO2

and H2O (limited supply of CO).

• Alkene: A yellow, sootier flame is produced (due to the extra carbon and higher ratio

of carbon:hydrogen).

Identifying some functional groups

• Alkene - Add to orange bromine water. The alkene will decolourise it.

• Halogenalkane - Heat with sodium hydroxide solution. Acidify with dilute nitric acid

and then test with silver nitrate solution as with inorganic halides.

• Alcohols or carboxylic acids containing C-OH - In a dry test tube (i.e. dry alcohol), add

PCl5. Misty fumes of HCl are produced, which turns blue litmus paper red.

Distinguishing between different classes of alcohol

Primary - Add PCl5. Warm it with aqueous potassium dichromate (K2Cr2O7) and dilute

H2SO4. Misty fumes are given off and the colour changed from orange to green --> aldehyde.

Secondary - Misty fumes, changes to green --> ketone.

Tertiary - Misty fumes, no colour change.