Qualitative Analysis Page 1 of 5

Tests involving the reagent aqueous NaOH solution ONLY

TABLE 1. COLOURED SOLUTIONS
Ion First addition of reagent Reagent in excess Coents
Pale geen !"e
#$
%
Dity geen &&t
"e
#$
!a'% $ #O(
)
!a'%
"e!O(%# !s%
No fut*e +*ange, *o-eve at t*e
to& of t*e .i/tue it .ay tun
0o-n on stan1ing
This is due to oxidation of iron(II)
hydroxide to iron(III) hydroxide
Basi+ *y1o/i1e -*i+* .eans it
1oes not ea+t -it* e/+ess NaO(
solution
2ello- !"e
3$
% Rusty 0o-n &&t
"e
3$
!a'% $ 3O(
)
!a'%
"e!O(%3 !s%
No fut*e +*ange Basi+ *y1o/i1e -*i+* .eans it
1oes not ea+t -it* e/+ess NaO(
solution
Blue !Cu
#$
% Pale 0lue &&t
Cu
#$
!a'% $ #O(
)
!a'%
Cu!O(%# !s%
No fut*e +*ange Basi+ *y1o/i1e -*i+* .eans it
1oes not ea+t -it* e/+ess NaO(
solution
Big*t geen
!C
3
$%
Blue o 0lue geen &&t
C
3$
!a'% $ 3O(
)
!a'%
C!O(%3 !s%
P&t 1issolves fo.ing a 0ig*t
geen solution
C!O(%3 !s% $ 3O(
)
!a'%
4C!O(%56
3)
!a'%
These ions are not on
the C!"C s#lla$us
and thus can $e
ignored $# %
th
and 5
th

for students
Pin7
!Co
#$
%
Blue &&t -*i+* tuns &in7 on
stan1ing
Co
#$
!a'% $ #O(
)
!a'%
Co!O(%# !s%
No fut*e +*ange
Pale &in7 0ut
usually
+olouless
!8n
#$
%
9*ite o +ea. &&t
8n
#$
!a'% $#O(
)
!a'%
8n!O(%# !s%
No fut*e +*ange, *o-eve &&t
.ay tun 0o-n on stan1ing
This is due to oxidation of Mn(II)
hydroxide to Mn(III)oxide
TABLE #. COLOURLESS SOLUTIONS
Ion First addition of reagent Reagent in excess Coents
Ca
#$
No &&t No &&t
N(:
$
No &&t
On warming, a colourless pungent
gas is evolved which turns red
litmus to blue
N!
"
(a#) " O
$
(a#) N% (g) "
&O(l)
No &&t A..onia gas is t*e ONL2
al7aline gas you -ill .eet at
t*is level;
8g
#$
9*ite &&t
8g
#$
!a'% $ #O(
)
!a'%
8g!O(%# !s%
No fut*e +*ange
Ba
#$
Little o no &&t No fut*e +*ange Baiu. *y1o/i1e is vey
solu0le *en+e no &&t
Al
3$
9*ite &&t
Al
3$
!a'% $ 3O(
)
!a'% Al!O(%3
!s%
Dissolves to fo. a +olouless
solution
Al!O(%3 !s% $ 3O(
)
!a'%
4Al!O(%56
3)
!a'%
All t*ee *y1o/i1es of <n, Al
an1 P0 ae a.&*otei+ an1 fo.
a +o.&le/ ion=) >in+ate,
alu.inate an1 &lu.0ate
es&e+tively.
<n
#$
9*ite &&t
<n
#$
!a'% $ #O(
)
!a'% <n!O(%#
!s%
Dissolves to fo. a +olouless
solution
<n!O(%# !s% $ #O(
)
!a'%
4<n!O(%:6
#)
!a'%
P0
#$
9*ite &&t
P0
#$
!a'% $ #O(
)
!a'% P0!O(%#
!s%
Dissolves to fo. a +olouless
solution
P0!O(%# !s% $ #O(
)
!a'%
4P0!O(%:6
#)
!a'%
Qualitative Analysis Page & of 5
Tests involving the reagent aqueous aonia solution
TABLE 3. COLOURED SOLUTIONS
Ion First addition of reagent Reagent in excess
Pale geen !"e
#$
% Dity geen &&t
"e
#$
!a'% $ #O(
)
!a'% "e!O(%# !s%
No fut*e +*ange, *o-eve at t*e to& of t*e .i/tue it
.ay tun 0o-n on stan1ing
This is due to oxidation of iron(II) hydroxide to iron(III)
hydroxide
2ello- !"e
3$
% Rusty 0o-n &&t
"e
3$
!a'% $ 3O(
)
!a'% "e!O(%3 !s%
No fut*e +*ange
Blue !Cu
#$
% Pale 0lue &&t
Cu
#$
!a'% $ #O(
)
!a'% Cu!O(%# !s%
P&t 1issolves to give a 1ee& 0lue solution
Cu!O(%# !s% $ :N(3 !a'% 4Cu!N(3%:6
#$
!a'%
Big*t geen
!C
3
$%
Blue o 0lue geen &&t
C
3$
!a'% $ 3O(
)
!a'% C!O(%3 !s%
P&t 1issolves fo.ing a oyal 0lue solution
C!O(%3 !s% $ 5N(3 !a'% 4C!N(3%56
3$
!a'%
Pin7
!Co
#$
%
Blue &&t -*i+* tuns &in7 on stan1ing
Co
#$
!a'% $ #O(
)
!a'% Co!O(%# !s%
P&t 1issolves to fo. a 0o-n solution -*i+* t*en
1a7ens on stan1ing
Co!O(%# !s% $ 5N(3 !a'% 4Co!N(3%56
#$
!a'%
The dar'ening is due to the oxidation of (o(II) to (o(III)
Pale &in7 0ut
usually +olouless
!8n
#$
%
9*ite o +ea. &&t
8n
#$
!a'% $#O(
)
!a'% 8n!O(%# !s%
No fut*e +*ange, *o-eve &&t .ay tun 0o-n on
stan1ing
This is due to oxidation of Mn(II) hydroxide to
Mn(III)oxide
TABLE :. COLOURLESS SOLUTIONS
Ion First addition of reagent Reagent in excess Coenets
Ca
#$
No &&t No &&t
N(:
$
No &&t No &&t
8g
#$
9*ite &&t
8g
#$
!a'% $ #O(
)
!a'% 8g!O(%# !s%
No fut*e +*ange
Ba
#$
Little o no &&t No fut*e +*ange
Al
3$
9*ite &&t
Al
3$
!a'% $ 3O(
)
!a'% Al!O(%3 !s%
No fut*e +*ange
<n
#$
9*ite &&t
<n
#$
!a'% $ #O(
)
!a'% <n!O(%# !s%
Dissolves to fo. a +olouless
solution
<n!O(%# !s% $ :N(3 !a'%
4<n!N(3%:6
#)
A +o.&le/ ion o++us in e/+ess
a..onia solution +alle1
1ia..ine >in+!II% ion. This
reaction distinguishes 'inc
ions fro (l
)*
and +$
&*
ions
P0
#$
9*ite &&t
P0
#$
!a'% $ #O(
)
!a'% P0!O(%# !s%
No fut*e +*ange
Qualitative Analysis Page ) of 5
T(,L" 5- Tests .ith various reagents other than sodiu h#droxide and aqueous aonia
Test O$servation Inference Coents
Silve nitate solution in
t*e &esen+e of 1ilute
(Cl o (NO3
T*en follo-e1 0y
a'ueous a..onia
9*ite &&t .eans
&&t 1issolves to give a
+olouless solution
Cea. &&t
&&t &atially 1issolves
2ello- &&t
&&t e.ains
Cl
)
&esent
Ag
$
!a'% $ Cl
)
!a'% AgCl !s%
AgCl !s% $#N(3 !a'% 4Ag!N(3%#6
$
B
)
&esent
Ag
$
!a'% $ B
)
!a'% AgB !s%
I
)
&esent
Ag
$
!a'% $ I
)
!a'% AgI !s%
)ilver chloride ppt
turns from white togrey
in sunlight as the silver
ions are reduced to
silver which gives the
ppt a grey or even
purple colour
Baiu. +*loi1e o
0aiu. nitate solution
T*en follo-e1 0y 1ilute
(Cl o (NO3
9*ite &&t
&&t 1issolves to give a
+olouless solution
&&t e.ains
SO3
#)
o SO:
#)
&esent
SO3
#)
&esent
SO3
#)
!a'% $ #(
$
!a'% SO#!g% $ (#O !l%
SO:
#)
&esent
Ba
#$
!a'% $ SO:
#)
!a'% BaSO:%s%
Dilute niti+ o
*y1o+*loi+ a+i1 .ust
0e &esent to &event
t*e &e+i&itation of
+a0onates.
A11ition of (Cl o any
sou+e of +*loi1e ions
sometimes an additional
test may be to warm the
mixture if a ppt is
formed and then allow
to cool
9*ite &&t
&&t 1issolves fully -*en
.i/tue is -a.e1 an1
e+ystallises to fo.
nee1le s*a&e1 +ystals
-*en +ool
P0
#$
P0
#$
!a'% $ #Cl
)
!a'% P0Cl# !s%
lea1!II% +*loi1e is
.oe solu0le in *ot
-ate t*an +ol1 -ate.
T*eefoe one -oul1
see a total e1u+tion in
t*e a.ount of &&t
&esent -*en .i/tue is
-a.e1. As it +ools,
+ystalli>ation o++us
an1 t*e tue s*a&e of
t*e +ystals ae seen.
N, lead/II0 $roide
gives a siilar
o$servation $ut it is
onl# 1artiall# solu$le
in hot .ater .hile
lead/II0 chloride is
co1letel# solu$le in
hot .ater
A11ition of a'ueous
&otassiu. io1i1e
solution o a11ition of
P0
#$
ions
sometimes an additional
test may be to warm the
mixture if a ppt is
formed and then allow
to cool
Big*t yello- &&t
Re1)0o-n solution -*i+*
.ay *ave 0la+7 &ati+les.
P0
#$
P0
#$
!a'% $ #I
)
!a'% P0I# !s%
Potassiu. io1i1e is a e1u+ing agent
an1 if a +olou +*ange is seen, t*en a
e1o/ ea+tion *as o++ue1 an1 t*e
sa.&le *as o/i1i>ing &o&eties.
lea1!II% io1i1e is .oe
solu0le in *ot -ate
t*an +ol1 -ate. A
&atial e1u+tion in t*e
a.ount of &&t &esent
-*en .i/tue is
-a.e1 -oul1 0e seen.
As it +ools,
+ystalli>ation o++us
an1 t*e tue s*a&e of
t*e +ystals ae seen.
Often t*e +ystals
Qualitative Analysis Page % of 5
e/*i0it a ?glittey@
effe+t.
Con+. sul&*ui+ a+i1 to a
soli1 *ali1e e.g. so1iu.
+*loi1e, so1iu. 0o.i1e,
so1iu. io1i1e
Aigouous effeves+en+e
-*ite .i/tue
Colouless, &ungent gas
Tuns 0lue lit.us e1
Aigouous effeves+en+e
oangeBe1 .i/tue
0o-n, &ungent gas
Tuns 0lue lit.us e1 t*en
-*ite
Aigouous effeves+en+e
1ee& &u&leB0la+7 .i/tue
&u&le, &ungent gas
Tuns 0lue lit.us e1 t*en
-*ite
Cl
)
&esent
Cas is a+i1i+
Cas is *y1ogen +*loi1e
1is&la+e.ent of *y1ogen +*loi1e 0y
sul&*ui+ a+i1
NaCl $ (#SO: (Cl $ Na(SO:
B
)
&esent
Bo.i1e ions ae stong e1u+ing agents
an1 a e1o/ ea+tion o++us an1 0o.ine
is &o1u+e1
gas is a+i1i+ an1 it also 0lea+*es -*i+*
i.&lies t*e *alogen is 0eing &o1u+e1
(#SO: $ #(
$
$ #B
)
B# $ SO# $
#(#O
I
)
&esent
Io1i1e ions ae stong e1u+ing agents
an1 a e1o/ ea+tion o++us an1 io1ine is
&o1u+e1
gas is a+i1i+ an1 it also 0lea+*es -*i+*
i.&lies t*e *alogen is 0eing &o1u+e1
(#SO: $ D(
$
$ DI
)
:I# $ (#S $ :(#O
Con+entate1
sul&*ui+
a+i1 is a
&o-eful
o/i1i>ing
agent
A11ition of a+i1ifie1
&otassiu. .anganate
solution
De+olouisation i.e. fo.
&u&le to +olouless
Sin+e a+i1ifie1 &otassiu. .anganate is
an o/i1i>ing agent, t*e sa.&le teste1
.ust *ave e1u+ing &o&eties
A11ition of a+i1ifie1
&otassiu. 1i+*o.ate
solution
Coes fo. oange to geen Sin+e a+i1ifie1 &otassiu. 1i+*o.ate is
an o/i1i>ing agent, t*e sa.&le teste1
.ust *ave e1u+ing &o&eties
A11ition of 1ilute a+i1 to a
soli1 sa.&le eit*e 1ilute
(Cl o (NO3
Effeves+en+e
Soli1 1issolves
No effeves+en+e
Soli1 1issolves
Cas &o1u+e1
sa.&le .ust 0e eit*e a +a0onate o a
sul&*ite
Sa.&le .ust 0e eit*e an o/i1e o
*y1o/i1e
A11ition of Deva1aEs
alloy to sa.&le in &esen+e
of NaO( solution an1
-a.
Effeves+en+e
Colouless, &ungent gas
evolve1 tuns e1 lit.us 0lue
Cas is 0asi+
Cas is a..onia
NO3
)
ion &esent
3NO3
)
$ DAl $ FO(
G
$ 1D(#O H 3N(3
$ D4Al!O(%:6
G
A11ition of +on+ (#SO:
-it* +o&&e tunings
&esent an1 -a.
Effeves+en+e
Blue)geen solution
Bo-n, &ungent gas evolve1
Tuns 0lue lit.us e1
Cas is a+i1i+
NO# gas &o1u+e1 !0o-n gas%
NO3
)
ion &esent
3Cu!s% $ D(NO3!a'% ))I 3Cu!NO3%#!a'% $
#NO!g% $ :(#O!l%
T*e +on+ sul&*ui+ a+i1
ea+ts -it* t*e nitate
ion to fo. niti+ a+i1.
T*e niti+ a+i1 t*en
ea+ts -it* t*e +o&&e
tuning to fo. nitogen
.ono/i1e -*i+* is
o/i1i>e1 to nitogen
1io/i1e
A11ition of fes*ly
&e&ae1 ion!II% sul&*ate
solution o +ystals an1
t*en a11 +on+ (#SO:
slo-ly
Bo-n ing is fo.e1 NO3
)
&esent
NO3
)
$ 3"e
#$
$ :(
$
H 3"e
3$
$ NO $ #(#O
4"e!(#O%56
#$
$ NO H 4"e!(#O%F!NO%6
#$

!0o-n ing%
T*e 0o-n ing is not
al-ays easily seen, it is
a +onfi.ation test t*at
t*e nitate ion is &esent
Qualitative Analysis Page 5 of 5
A11ition of &otassiu.
io1i1e solution follo-e1 0y
a'ueous so1iu.
t*iosul&*ate solution until
no fut*e +*ange
8usta1 !0o-n% li'ui1
9*ite &&t !+olou .as7e1 0y
0o-n li'ui1%
9*en t*iosul&*ate solution
a11e1 t*e &&t 1issolves an1
solution tuns +olouless

Cu
#$
ion &esent
9*ite &&t is +o&&e !I% io1i1e. T*e
+o&&e!II% ion is e1u+e1 to +o&&e!I%
an1 so.e io1i1e ions o/i1i>e1 to io1ine.
#Cu
#$
!a'% $ :I
)
!a'% #CuI!s% $ I#!a'%
T*e t*iosul&*ate t*en ea+ts -it* t*e
io1ine .ole+ules to fo. +olouless
io1i1e ions.
#S#O3
#)
!a'% $ I# !a'% S:O5
#)
!a'% $ #I
)
!a'%
A11ition of &otassiu.
*e/a+yanofeate!II%
Dee& 0lue &&t !Pussian 0lue% "e
3$
ions &esent
:"e
3$
!a'% $ 3"e!CN%5
:)
!a'% "e:4"e!CN%563
!s%
A11ition of &otassiu.
t*io+yanate o a..oniu.
t*io+yanate
Bloo1 e1 solution "e
3$
ions &esent
"e
3$
!a'% $ SCN
)
!a'% "e!SCN%
#$
!a'%
A11ition of &otassiu.
*e/a+yanofeate!III%
Dee& 0lue &&t !Pussian 0lue% "e
#$
ions &esent
3"e
#$
!a'% $ #"e!CN%5
3)
!a'% "e34"e!CN%56#
!s%
T(,L" 2- Tests involving gases
3as Test O$servation with inference in italics
CO# Bu00le gas into lie.ater
test gas -it* .oist e1 an1 0lue lit.us
9*ite &&t fo.e1 !formation of insoluble calcium carbonate )
(a(O)& " (O& (a(O% " &O)
solution goes +olouless on e/+essive 0u00ling of gas
(calcium carbonate reacts with more carbon dioxide to form soluble
calcium hydrogencarbonate (a(O% " (O& " &O (a((O%)&
a+i1i+ gas !forms carbonic acid (O& " &O &(O%)
(# Pla+e a lighted s&lint in t*e gas
test gas -it* .oist e1 an1 0lue lit.us
E/tinguis*es a lig*te1 s&lint -it* a ?&o&@ soun1 !hydrogen
combusts with oxygen)
Colouless gas -it* no effe+t on lit.us !neutral gas)
O# Pla+e a glo.ing s&lint in t*e gas
test gas -it* .oist e1 an1 0lue lit.us
Re7in1les a glo-ing s&lint (oxygen supports combustion)
Colouless gas -it* no effe+t on lit.us !neutral gas)
N(3 test gas -it* .oist e1 an1 0lue lit.us
&la+e glass o1 1i&&e1 in +on+. (Cl in t*e gas
Tuns e1 lit.us 0lue !basic gas)
"o.s 1ense -*ite fu.es (reacts with hydrogen chloride gas to
form small particles of ammonium chloride
N%(g) " (l(g) N!(l (s)
SO# Bu00le gas into a+i1ifie1 &otassiu. .anganate o
1i+*o.ate
Colouless gas -it* +*o+7ing s.ell
Pu&le to +olouless !a+i1ifie1 &otassiu. .anganate% o oange to
geen !a+i1ifie1 &otassiu. 1i+*o.ate%
!gas has reducing properties)
(Cl &la+e glass o1 1i&&e1 in +on+. a..onia in t*e gas Dense -*ite fu.es (reacts with ammonia gas to form small
particles of ammonium chloride N%(g) " (l(g) N!(l (s)
Cl# Test -it* .oist lit.us &ale yello-)geen gas -it* +*o7ing s.ell
0lea+*es lit.us (forms hypochlorous acid which has bleaching
properties)
B# Test -it* .oist lit.us Bo-n gas -*i+* 0lea+*es lit.us (forms hypobromous acid which
has bleaching properties)
I#
Test -it* .oist lit.us Dee& &u&le gas -*i+* 0lea+*es lit.us (forms hypoiodous acid
which has bleaching properties)
NO#
Test -it* .oist lit.us Bo-n gas -it* +*o7ing s.ell
Tuns 0lue lit.us e1 (forms nitric acid when in contact with water)