Testing for ions in the lab

SALT
• ACID + BASE - SALT + WATER
• E.g.
• HCl + NaOH - NaCl + H20

• Salt has 2 ions

• Cations (+) Na+
• Anions (-) Cl-
 When we test any salt
• preicipate
• Or
• Gas
• (both can be tested)
Test for water

• Physical test for H20 =

sharp boiling point
100C
Flame test (Pt ribbon in HCl)
 Cations
• Form to test –
• Ammonium ions – solid or aqueous solution
• For metal ions – aqueous solution
 Solutions used to test
• Dil NaOH
Or
NH3 solution
Reason ( both provide hydroxide ion OH-)
Check for colour or precipitation formation
Check for ay change with excess (solubility,)
NH4+
Cu 2+
Fe2+
Fe3+
AL3+
ZN2+
Ca2+
ions Effect of adding On excess Naoh On excess
NH3solution

NH4+

Cu2+

Fe2+

Fe3+

Al3+

Zn2+

Ca2+
 TEST FOR ANIONS
• Halide ions (Cl-, Br-, I-)
• Tests –
• Equal volume of solution
• Equal vol of dil nitric acid
• Add silver nitrate
• Check for colour of precipitation
The nitric acid is added first to
remove any carbonate ions that
might be present - they would
produce a white precipitate of silver
carbonate, giving a false positive
result for chloride ions.
 Sulfate ions SO4 2-
The hydrochloric acid is added first to remove
• Test any carbonate ions that might be present -
they would also produce a white precipitate,
• Equal vol of solution giving a false positive result.

• Equal vol of dill HCl acid

• Add barium nitrate solution
• Reaction

• Result – white precipitate

 Nitrate ion (NO3-)
• Add NaOH
• Add pieces of aluminium foil
• Heat

• Release of ammonia gas

 CARBONATE IONS(CO3 2-)
• Add dil HCl

• Mixture gives off a gas that turns lime water

milky
ions add colour gas

SO4 2- Dil Hcl , White ppt no

Barium
nitrate

NO3- NaOH sol, - NH3

Al foil

CO3 2- Dil HCl bubbles CO2 (lime

water test)
• Distinguishing between aluminium ions and
calcium ions
• A few drops of dilute sodium hydroxide solution
react to form a white precipitate with aluminium
ions and with calcium ions. However, if excess
sodium hydroxide solution is added:
• the aluminium hydroxide precipitate reacts to
form a colourless solution
• the calcium hydroxide precipitate is unchanged
 Why NaOH is not used for Na+ or K+
• Ions of group 1 metals (Li+, Na+ and K+) form
soluble hydroxides. Therefore, they are
identified using flame tests and not by adding
sodium hydroxide solution.