Tests for ions and gases

g) Tests for ions and gases

2.38 describe simple tests for the cations:
1. Li
+
, Na
+
, K
+
, Ca
2+
using flame tests
2. NH
4
+
using sodium hydroxide solution and identifying the ammonia evolved
3. Cu
2+
, Fe
2+
and Fe
3+
using sodium hydroxide solution

1. Flame tests:

Li
+
(Lithium) Red flame
Na
+
(Sodium) Orange/Yellow flame
K
+
(Potassium) Lilac
Ca
2+
(Calcium) Brick red flame

2. NH
4
+
(Ammonium ion) Add sodium hydroxide solution (aqueous NaOH) and do
NH
3
(ammonia) test on the fumes evolved. You use damp red litmus paper, and the
NH
3
evolved will turn it blue.


3. When you add sodium hydroxide solution to the following:
Cu
2+
Light blue precipitate formed
Fe
2+
Green precipitate formed
Fe
3+
Orange/brown precipitate formed


2.39 describe simple tests for the anions:
1. Cl
-
, Br
-
and I
-
, using dilute nitric acid and silver nitrate solution
2. SO
4
2-
, using dilute hydrochloric acid and barium chloride solution
3. CO
3
2-
, using dilute hydrochloric acid and identifying the carbon dioxide evolved


1. To test for the halide ions. When you add dilute nitric acid (aqueous HNO
3
) followed by silver
nitrate solution (aqueous AgNO
3
) to the following:
Cl
-
white precipitate formed insoluble AgCl
Br
-
cream precipitate formed insoluble AgBr
I
-
yellow precipitate formed insoluble AgI

2. To test for sulphate ions (SO
4
2-
).

When you add dilute hydrochloric acid followed by barium
chloride solution (aqueous BaCl
2
): a white precipitate of insoluble BaSO
4
is formed

3. To test for carbonate ions (CO
3
2-
). You can:
Add an acid (e.g. hydrochloric acid) and test any gas evolved with limewater. You should
observe effervescence (fizzing), and the gas will turn limewater milky white as it is CO
2
that is
given off. Remember that acid + metal carbonate salt + water + carbon dioxide
Heat it strongly, and bubble gas into limewater. Here, thermal decomposition is
occurring and CO
2
is given off, hence the limewater will turn milky white too. The most
common example is with calcium carbonate, calcium carbonate calcium oxide + carbon
dioxide + water


2.40 describe simple tests for the gases:
1. hydrogen
2. oxygen
3. carbon dioxide
4. ammonia
5. chlorine.

Hydrogen: apply a lit splint and you will hear a squeaky pop sound
Oxygen: apply a glowing splint and the splint relights (theres also the option of applying
a lit splint, and the flame just gets brighter but relighting the glowing splint one is much better)
Carbon dioxide: bubble it into limewater and it goes milky white
Ammonia: use a damp red litmus paper and it turns blue
You can also hold it near fumes of concentrated HCl and you will observe cloudy
fumes evolving, which is NH
4
Cl (ammonium chloride) and this gas has a characteristic
pungent smell
Chlorine: use damp blue litmus paper and it goes red (then bleaches it white)

To remember which ones uses blue litmus paper and which ones use red litmus paper,
remember the periodic table. The metal elements on the left form alkaline substances so they
must turn red litmus paper blue like the universal indicator turns blue in alkaline solutions.
And vice versa with the non-metal elements on the right side of the periodic table, they form
acidic substances so use blue litmus paper, and observe that it turns red. With the gases, the
litmus paper must be damp so that the gases dissolve then act on it. For instance with the
chlorine gas.

As an extra, I think you all should know the test for pure water too. You must heat it to boiling
point and it boils at exactly 100C, but you should also cool it till freezing point and it should
freeze at 0C. The reason for adding the freezing bit too is to make it fool-proof, as pure water
is the only substance that has these exact boiling and freezing points whilst other substances
may boil at 100C too etc.

For testing the mere presence of water, you just need to add a few drops to anhydrous copper
sulphate crystals, which are white, and they turn blue to become hydrated copper sulphate
(formula: CuSO
4
.H
2
O the dot . shows that the water is part of the structure, it is what makes it
turn blue--called the water of crystallisation)

Water also turns blue cobalt chloride (CoCl
2
) pink.