Confirmatory Tests for Cations & Anions

prepared by alex teoh / Update: 29 Dec 2004-2205 h / 1st pub: 7 Sep 2001 @ CHIJ-St Josephs Convent

Test for CATions

* All cations must be present in aqueous states before tests can be conducted..

CATion
ammonium zinc

Reaction with aqueous Sodium Hydroxide

NO ppt. Ammonia gas produced on warming. White ppt. [y] Soluble in excess aq. NaOH to form a colorless solution. [z] Zn2+ + 2OH- Zn(OH)2 (white ppt) Zn(OH)2 + 2OH- [Zn(OH)4]2- (aq) White ppt. [u] Ca2+ + 2OH- Ca(OH)2 (white ppt) Insoluble in excess aq. NaOH. [w] White ppt. [p] Soluble in excess aq. NaOH to form a colorless solution. [q] Al3+ + 3OH- Al(OH)3 (white ppt) Al(OH)3 + OH- [Al(OH)4]- (aq) White ppt. Soluble in excess aq. NaOH to form a colorless solution. Pb2+ + 2OH- Pb(OH)2 (white ppt) Pb(OH)2 + 2OH- [Pb(OH)4]2- (aq) NO ppt.

Reaction with aqueous Ammonia

White ppt. Soluble in excess aqueous ammonia to form a colorless solution. Zn2+ + 2OH- Zn(OH)2 (white ppt) Zn(OH)2 + 4NH3(aq) [Zn(NH3)4]2+ (aq) NO ppt. [x] or a very slight white ppt. White ppt. [s] Insoluble in excess aqueous ammonia. [t] Al3+ + 3OH- Al(OH)3 (white ppt) White ppt. Insoluble in excess aqueous ammonia. Pb2+ + 2OH- Pb(OH)2 (white ppt) Blue ppt.[i] Soluble in excess aqueous ammonia to form a dark blue solution. [m] Cu2+ + 2OH- Cu(OH)2 (blue ppt) Cu(OH)2 + 4NH3(aq) [Cu(NH3)4]2+(aq) Dark green ppt. Insoluble in excess aqueous ammonia. Reddish-Brown ppt. Insoluble in excess aqueous ammonia.

calcium

aluminium

lead(II)

copper (II)

Blue ppt. [g] Insoluble in excess aq. NaOH. Cu2+ + 2OH- Cu(OH)2 (blue ppt) Dark green ppt. [h] Insoluble in excess aq. NaOH. Fe2+ + 2OH- Fe(OH)2 (dark green ppt) Reddish-Brown ppt. [k] Insoluble in excess aq. NaOH. Fe3+ + 3OH- Fe(OH)3 (red brown ppt)

iron (II) iron(III)

NOTE: The observations for both lead(II) and aluminium ions are similar. To distinguish them, add aqueous potassium iodide KI to both solutions. Only lead(II) ions will give a yellow ppt.

Test for ANions

Chloride, iodide, nitrate and sulfate ions must be present in aqueous states before tests can be conducted.

Anion carbonate

Test
Add dilute hydrochloric or nitric acid.

Observation ( if test is positive )

Effervescence; bubbles of carbon dioxide produced. A white ppt is formed when carbon dioxide is bubbled through limewater. Ca(OH)2 + CO2 CaCO3 (white ppt) + H2O A white ppt.(pic a) is formed. White ppt remains on the addition of dilute nitric acid.

chloride
(in aqueous solution )

iodide
(in aqueous solution )

nitrate
(in aqueous solution )

sulphate
(in aqueous solution )

Add aqueous silver nitrate. Then acidify with dilute nitric acid. Add aqueous lead(II) nitrate. Then acidify with dilute nitric acid. Add aqueous sodium hydroxide and then aluminium foil. Warm gently. Add aqueous barium nitrate (or aqueous barium chloride). Then, acidify with dilute nitric or dilute hydrochloric acid respectively.

Ag+ + Cl- AgCl (white ppt)

Yellow ppt. (pic b) is produced. Yellow ppt remains on the addition of dilute nitric acid.

Pb2+ + 2I- PbI2 (white ppt) yellow ppt

Moist red litmus paper turns blue (Ammonia gas produced)

3NO3- + 8Al + 5OH- + 18H2O 3NH3 + 8Al(OH)4A white ppt. (pic c) is formed. White ppt remains on the addition of dilute hydrochloric acid (or dilute nitric acid )

Ba2+ + SO42- BaSO4 (white ppt)

Last Update: alexteoh - 2008June22 / Sunday / 1800h-1930h