QUALITATIVE ANALYSIS DIAGNOSTIC INSTRUMENT*

Instructions Choose the most suitable option and the reason for your choice in each question by filling the appropriate circles in the answer sheet. If you feel that all options given are inappropriate, indicate the question number and write down what you think the correct answer should be behind the answer sheet.

For Questions 1 to 4, refer to Experiment A: Experiment A Step a Test To a sample of aqueous zinc chloride, add aqueous sodium hydroxide until a change is seen. Add excess of aqueous sodium hydroxide to the mixture from (a). Observations A white solid is obtained.

White solid disappears in excess reagent to give a colourless solution.

Add dilute nitric(V) acid (HNO3) to the mixture from (b) until no further change is seen.

White solid reappears. When excess acid is added, the solid disappears giving a colourless solution.

1.

What happens when aqueous sodium hydroxide is added to aqueous zinc chloride resulting in the white solid? A B C Displacement Precipitation Redox

Reason/Justification (1) (2) (3) (4) The solution is too concentrated with sodium chloride so the sodium chloride comes out of the solution as a solid. Sodium hydroxide loses oxygen in forming sodium chloride and zinc chloride gains oxygen in forming zinc hydroxide. Sodium ion is more reactive than zinc ion. Zinc ions combine with the hydroxide ions.

* Developed by Daniel Tan, National Institute of Education, Singapore. Email: kcdtan@nie.edu.sg

2.

In step (b), a colourless solution is obtained because the white solid _____ the excess sodium hydroxide. A dissolves in B reacts with

Reason/Justification (1) (2) (3) (4) More solvent is added so there is more space for the white solid to dissolve. No further reaction is seen except for the disappearance of the white solid, and no new reagent is added. Sodium ion displaces the cation from the white solid. The white solid forms a new soluble compound with the excess sodium hydroxide.

3.

A student concludes that the white solid observed in step (c) is the same as the white solid obtained in step (a). Do you agree with the students conclusion? A Yes B No

Reason/Justification (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) Different reagents were used. The acid reacts with the excess sodium hydroxide to form sodium nitrate(V) which appears as the white solid. The acid reacts with the zinc compound to form zinc nitrate(V) which appears as the white solid. The acid reacts with the mixture to reverse the formation of the soluble compound in step (b). The acid removes the solvent which dissolves the white solid in step (b), so the white solid reappears.

4.

The student also concludes that, in step (c), the white solid dissolves because more solvent (dilute nitric(V) acid) is added. Do you agree with the students conclusion? A Yes B No

Reason/Justification (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) Adding more acid dilutes the solution. Hydrogen is more reactive than the cation in the white solid, so it displaces the cation from the solid. No further reaction is seen except for the disappearance of the white solid, and no new reagent is added. The acid contains hydrogen ions which reduce the white solid. The acid reacts with the white solid to form a soluble compound.

For Questions 5 to 9, refer to Experiment B: Experiment B Step Test Q is an aqueous solution of a compound which containing a cation and an anion which could possibly be chloride. a To a portion of Q, add an equal volume of aqueous silver nitrate(V) (AgNO3). Divide the mixture into 2 portions. To the first portion, add dilute nitric(V) acid. To the second portion, add aqueous ammonia. A white solid is obtained. Observations

No visible reaction. The white solid remains. White solid disappears and a colourless liquid is formed. White solid appears.

c(i)

c(ii)

To the mixture from c(i), add dilute nitric(V) acid until a change is seen. What is the white solid obtained in step (a)? A B C AgCl ZnCl2 Zn(NO3)2

5.

Reason/Justification (1) (2) (3) (4) 6. The silver ions are displaced by the more reactive cations from Q. The silver ions combine with the chloride ions. The white solid disappears when aqueous ammonia is added in step c(i). The nitrate(V) ions are displaced by the more reactive chloride ions.

In step (b), the purpose of adding the dilute nitric(V) acid is to: A B C acidify the mixture. determine if the sample contains carbonate ions after identifying the gas evolved (if any). dissolve the white solid.

Reason/Justification (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) All nitrate(V) salts are soluble. Carbonate ions form a white solid with silver nitrate(V) which will react with nitric(V) acid. Dilute nitric(V) acid is a strong oxidising agent. Dilute nitric(V) acid is a good solvent. So that Q can react properly with silver nitrate(V).

7.

In step (b), can dilute hydrochloric acid be added instead of dilute nitric(V) acid? A Yes B No

Reason/Justification (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) Both nitrate(V) and chloride ions are already present in the mixture. Chloride ions from dilute hydrochloric acid will interfere with the test. Dilute hydrochloric acid can be used as it has similar properties and reactions as dilute nitric(V) acid. Dilute hydrochloric acid will not react with the white solid. Dilute hydrochloric acid will react with the white solid.

8.

In step (c (i)), it can be concluded that the white solid disappeared because it reacted with the aqueous ammonia to form ammonium chloride. A True B False

Reason/Justification (1) (2) (3) (4) Ammonium chloride is a soluble salt. Chloride ions still present in solution react with the aqueous ammonia. The ammonium ion is more reactive than the silver ion, so it displaces the silver ion. The aqueous ammonia reacts with the white solid to produce a soluble compound which is not ammonium chloride.

9.

In step (c (ii)), the hydrogen ions in the acid reduce the silver ions present to form the white solid. A True B False

Reason/Justification (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) The acid decomposes the ammonium chloride to liberate chloride ions which react with the silver ions present in solution. The acid reacts with the aqueous ammonia to produce a new insoluble salt. The acid reacts with the aqueous ammonia and the soluble compound in step (c (i)) to produce the same white solid as in step (a). The acid removes the ammonium ions so that silver ions can react with hydroxide ions. The white solid is the element, silver.

10.

Will you test for oxygen gas when you heat an unknown solid? A Yes B No

Reason/Justification (1) (2) (3) (4) All gases must be tested when a substance is heated. Oxygen gas is produced only when acids react with compounds containing oxygen. Oxygen gas will not be liberated during heating, instead it would be used up. Some compounds decompose on heating to give oxygen gas.

11.

A student is given a solution which may contain carbonate ions. She decides to add aqueous barium nitrate(V) (Ba(NO3)2) to the solution first, followed by dilute nitric(V) acid. Is it possible for her to determine whether carbonate ions are present when she carries out the above procedures followed by the identification of the gas involved (if any)? A Yes B No

Reason/Justification (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) An insoluble carbonate would be formed leaving no free carbonate ions in solution to react with the acid. Dilute nitric(V) acid will react with both a soluble and an insoluble carbonate. The above procedure is strictly to test for the presence of sulphate(VI) (SO42-) only. The acid must be added directly to the solution to test for the presence of a carbonate. The unknown compound will only react with the dilute nitric(V) acid and not with the barium nitrate(V).

12.

Instead of dilute nitric(V) acid, can the student add dilute sulphuric(VI) acid (H2SO4) after the addition of barium nitrate(V) in Question 11? A Yes B No

Reason/Justification (1) (2) (3) (4) Any acid can be used as they have similar properties and reactions. Sulphate(VI) ions from dilute sulphuric(VI) acid will interfere with the test. Dilute sulphuric(VI) acid will react with the nitrate(V) ions. The addition of barium nitrate(V) has already invalidated (spoilt) the test for carbonate or sulphate(IV) ions.

For Questions 13 to 16, refer to Experiment C: Experiment C Step a Test To a sample of aqueous copper(II) sulphate(VI), add aqueous ammonia until a change is seen. Add excess of aqueous ammonia to the mixture from (a). Observations A light blue solid is obtained.

Light blue solid disappears in excess aqueous ammonia to give a deep blue solution. A light blue solid appears. When excess acid is added, the solid disappears giving a light blue solution.

Add dilute sulphuric(VI) acid to the mixture from (b) until no further change is seen.

13.

What happens when aqueous ammonia is added to aqueous copper(II) sulphate(VI) in step (a)? A B C Displacement Precipitation Redox

Reason/Justification (1) Aqueous ammonia gains oxygen in forming ammonium sulphate(VI) but copper(II) sulphate(VI) loses oxygen in forming copper(II) hydroxide. Copper(II) ions combine with the hydroxide ions. Copper(II) ion is more reactive than the ammonium ion. Copper(II) ion is less reactive than the ammonium ion.

(2) (3) (4)

14.

In step (b), why does the light blue solid disappear? A B It dissolves in aqueous ammonia. It reacts with aqueous ammonia.

Reason/Justification (1) (2) (3) (4) Ammonium ion displaces the cation from the light blue solid. More solvent is added so there is more volume for the light blue solid to dissolve in. No further reaction is seen except for the disappearance of the light blue solid, and no new reagent is added. There is a chemical reaction between the light blue solid and excess ammonia forming product(s) which is/are soluble.

15.

The light blue solid obtained in step (a) and in step (c) is the same. A True B False

Reason/Justification (1) (2) (3) (4) Different reagents were used. The acid reacts with the copper(II) compound to form copper(II) sulphate (VI) which appears as the light blue solid. The acid reacts with the mixture to reverse the formation of the soluble compound in step (b). The acid removes the solvent which dissolves the light blue solid in step (b), so the light blue solid reappears.

16.

Excess dilute sulphuric(VI) acid acts as a solvent for the light blue solid in step (c). A True B False

Reason/Justification (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) Adding more acid dilutes the mixture. Hydrogen is more reactive than the cation in the light blue solid, so it displaces the cation from the solid. No further reaction is seen except for the disappearance of the light blue solid, and no new reagent is added. The acid contains hydrogen ions which reduce the light blue solid. The acid reacts with the light blue solid to form a soluble compound.

For Questions 17 to 18, refer to Experiment D: Experiment D Step Test R is a colourless aqueous solution of a compound containing a cation and an anion which could possibly be iodide. a To a portion of R, add an equal volume of dilute nitric(V) acid. No visible reaction, a colourless solution remains. Yellow solid is obtained. Observations

To the mixture from (a), add a small volume of aqueous lead(II) nitrate(V) (Pb(NO3)2).

17.

The purpose of adding the dilute nitric(V) acid in step (a) is to A B acidify the mixture. determine if R reacts with the acid.

Reason/Justification (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) All nitrate(V) salts are soluble. Dilute nitric(V) acid is a strong oxidising agent. Dilute nitric(V) acid is a good solvent. So that R can react properly with lead(II) nitrate(V). The acid will react with any carbonate ions if they are present in R.

18.

How is the yellow solid formed? A B Displacement Precipitation

Reason/Justification (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) The lead(II) ion is more reactive than the cation from R. The lead(II) ion is less reactive than the cation from R. The lead(II) ions combine with iodide ions. The iodide ions are more reactive than the nitrate(V) ions. The iodide ions are less reactive than the nitrate(V) ions.

19.

A student believes that she has to test for hydrogen and carbon dioxide when she heats an unknown ionic compound (in powder form). Do you agree? A Yes B No

Reason/Justification (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) Ionic compounds have strong bonds and do not decompose on heating. Gases are only evolved when covalent compounds are heated. Some carbonates decompose on heating to give carbon dioxide but hydrogen is never liberated when any ionic compound is heated. The ionic compound would react with oxygen on heating to give water and/or carbon dioxide. Those ionic compounds containing carbonate, hydrogen or hydroxide ions will liberate carbon dioxide or hydrogen on heating.

APPENDIX A NOTES FOR USE IN QUALITATIVE ANALYSIS

Test for anions anion carbonate (CO32-) chloride (Cl-) [in solution] iodide (I-) [in solution] nitrate(NO3-) [in solution] sulphate(SO42-) [in solution] test add dilute acid acidify with dilute nitric acid, then add aqueous silver nitrate acidify with dilute nitric acid, then add aqueous lead(II) nitrate add aqueous sodium hydroxide then aluminium foil; warm carefully acidify with dilute nitric acid, then add aqueous barium nitrate test results effervescence, carbon dioxide produced white ppt. yellow ppt. ammonia produced white ppt.

Test for aqueous cations cation aluminium (Al3+) ammonium (NH4+) calcium (Ca2+) copper(II) (Cu2+) iron(II) (Fe2+) iron(III) (Fe3+) zinc (Zn2+) effect of aqueous sodium hydroxide white ppt., soluble in excess giving a colourless solution ammonia produced on warming white ppt., insoluble in excess light blue ppt., insoluble in excess effect of aqueous ammonia white ppt., insoluble in excess no ppt. or very slight white ppt light blue ppt., soluble in excess giving a dark blue solution green ppt., insoluble in excess red-brown ppt., insoluble in excess white ppt., soluble in excess giving a colourless solution

green ppt., insoluble in excess red-brown ppt., insoluble in excess white ppt., soluble in excess giving a colourless solution

Test for gases gas ammonia (NH3) carbon dioxide (CO2) chlorine (Cl2) hydrogen (H2) oxygen (O2) sulphur dioxide (SO2) test and test result turns damp red litmus paper blue turns limewater milky bleaches damp litmus paper pops with a lighted splint relights a glowing splint turns aqueous potassium dichromate(VI) green