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Testing Salts For Anions and Cations

This document provides instructions for identifying unknown salt samples by their cations and anions. Tests are described to identify common anions like chloride, bromide, sulfate, and carbonate using silver nitrate, barium chloride, and hydrochloric acid solutions. Tests to identify common cations like ammonium, copper, iron, lead, and zinc involve adding sodium hydroxide and ammonia solutions and observing any precipitates. Flame tests are also described for identifying metal cations like lithium, sodium, potassium, calcium, barium, and copper based on the color of flames. Students are asked to record their test results and write balanced equations for any reactions observed.

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294 views4 pages

Testing Salts For Anions and Cations

This document provides instructions for identifying unknown salt samples by their cations and anions. Tests are described to identify common anions like chloride, bromide, sulfate, and carbonate using silver nitrate, barium chloride, and hydrochloric acid solutions. Tests to identify common cations like ammonium, copper, iron, lead, and zinc involve adding sodium hydroxide and ammonia solutions and observing any precipitates. Flame tests are also described for identifying metal cations like lithium, sodium, potassium, calcium, barium, and copper based on the color of flames. Students are asked to record their test results and write balanced equations for any reactions observed.

Uploaded by

aldenor tomaz
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Testing salts for anions and cations

Introduction
Chemists often have to identify the composition of unknown substances. This
experiment involves identifying the cations and anions in various salt solutions.

What to record

Sample Test performed Result of test

What to do
1. Dissolve the unknown substance in deionised water. 5–10 cm 3 of solution may be needed.
2. Using the analysis table, test small aliquots (portions).
3. Repeat for the other unknown substances.
Safety
Wear eye protection. Some of the unknowns may be toxic or corrosive.

Questions
1. Write word and ionic equations for those reactions that give a positive result.
Testing salts for anions and cations.
For anions: carry out the three tests A,B and C below:

Royal Society of Chemistry Student Sheets – Classic Chemistry Experiments


Test Anion Test and observation
A Silver nitrate Chloride (Cl–) Add a few drops of dilute nitric acid
followed by (Irritant) followed by a few drops of
ammonia solution silver nitrate solution. A white precipitate
of silver chloride is formed. The
precipitate is soluble in ammonia solution.
–
Bromide (Br ) Add a few drops of dilute nitric acid
(Irritant) followed by a few drops of
silver nitrate solution. A pale yellow
precipitate of silver bromide is formed.
The precipitate is slightly soluble in
ammonia solution.
Iodide (I–) Add a few drops of dilute nitric acid
followed by a few drops of silver nitrate
solution. A yellow precipitate of silver
iodide is formed. It is insoluble in
ammonia solution.
2–
B Barium chloride Sulfate (SO4 ) Add a few drops of barium chloride
solution (Toxic) followed by a few drops
of dilute hydrochloric acid. A white
precipitate of barium sulfate is formed.
C Hydrochloric acid 2–
Carbonate (CO3 ) Add dilute hydrochloric acid to the
solution (or add it to the solid). Bubbles of
carbon dioxide are given off.

For cations: carry out the two tests D and E below:

Cation D Add sodium hydroxide E Add ammonia solution


solution (Irritant)
Ammonium (NH4+ Warm carefully. Do not allow to –––––––––––––––––
(aq)) spit. Ammonia (alkali gas) is
given off
Copper (Cu2+(aq)) Blue (jelly-like) precipitate of Blue jelly like precipitate
Cu(OH)2 (s) dissolves in excess ammonia
to form a deep blue solution.
Iron(II) (Fe2+(aq)) Green gelatinous precipitate of Green gelatinous
Fe(OH)2 (s) precipitate
Iron(III), (Fe3+(aq)) Rust-brown gelatinous Rust brown gelatinous
precipitate of Fe(OH)3 (s) precipitate
Lead(II), (Pb2+(aq)) White precipitate Pb(OH)2 (s) White precipitate, Pb(OH)2
dissolves in excess NaOH(aq)
Zinc (Zn2+(aq)) White precipitate, Zn(OH)2 (s) White precipitate, Zn(OH)2
(s) dissolves in excess NH3
(aq)
Aluminium (Al3+(aq)) Colourless precipitate, Al(OH)3 Colourless precipitate,
(s) Al(OH)3 (s)

Flame tests.
1. Slightly open the air hole of the Bunsen burner.

Royal Society of Chemistry Student Sheets – Classic Chemistry Experiments


2. Heat a piece of nichrome wire in a Bunsen flame until the flame is no longer coloured.
3. Dip the loop at the end of the wire into some water.
4. Dip the loop into an unknown salt.
5. Hold the wire in the edge of the flame.
6. Record the colour and identify the cation using the table below.

Royal Society of Chemistry Student Sheets – Classic Chemistry Experiments


Metal Colour of flame
Barium Apple-green
Calcium Brick-red
Copper Green with blue streaks
Lithium Crimson
Potassium Lilac
Sodium Yellow

Royal Society of Chemistry Student Sheets – Classic Chemistry Experiments

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