TESTING FOR CATIONS AND ANIONS

Introduction
Many times a chemist is asked about the composition of a
substance. Classically the sample is dissolved (sometimes not a
very simple task) and then tested with some specific reactions.
For instance, suppose some old bags in a depot are known to be
either sodium sulphate or sodium chloride. To decide which the
substance in the bag is, a sample is dissolved in water and the
tests described in the chart for sulphate and for chloride are
carried out in different test tubes. According to the results the
samples can be easily identified.

Aims
To observe some specific tests for cations and anions.

Apparatus
Test tubes and test tube racks, teat pipettes. Nichrome wire loop for flame tests, Bunsen
burner.

Procedures

1- TESTING FOR CATIONS

The cations and tests to be carried on them are listed at the end of this paper. The following
are just general working procedures.

The tests should be carried this way:

a- A sample (1-2 ml and no more than that volume) of the solution to be tested is
poured into a test tube.

b- As you should carry out two or three tests prepare three test tubes with the sample: the
first one is just to show how the solution originally looks like so that you can you can
compare and see if there has been any change. The other two for the “normal” and the
“excess” tests.

c- The specific reactive you are testing with (sodium hydroxide solution or dilute
ammonia) will be added drop wise (2 or 3 drops unless otherwise indicated).

d- If you have to test with excess of reactive solution then add 1 ml. If there is no
change, try a further 1ml addition and no more.

e- Write down any changes you notice in the corresponding boxes of the tables. Maybe
you have to smell carefully the vapours coming out from the test tube
2- FLAME TESTS

a- The Bunsen burner’s flame should be blue (air vents open) and the metallic
(platinum or more frequently nichrome alloy) loop placed on the tip of the blue
inner cone of the flame.

b- First, wash the loop dipping it into hydrochloric acid, rinsing with distilled water
and checking the flame is no longer coloured, so you are sure the test is not
“invalidated” by any previous experiments.

c- Put some crystals of sample (in case it is a

solid sample) or dip it into the solution to be
tested (if it were a liquid one).

d- Put the loop once again on the tip of the

inner blue cone of the flame and observe.

e- It is a matter of chemical politeness to burn away the remnants of sample so that

the next one to use the loop finds it is clean.

3- TESTING FOR ANIONS

The anions should be tested following a similar procedure as described in Part 1.

a- In case some pH or acidity regulation is indicated in the specific test in the syllabus
never use more than the amounts indicated in point 1.

b- In the test for nitrates aluminium foil should be added using tongs and the ammonia
vapours smelled carefully waving the vapours coming out from the test tube with
your hand and to your nose. Never ever smell a test tube putting your nose into it.
TESTS FOR CATIONS: RESULTS

Cation Shade of Aqueous Excess Aqueous Excess

solution NaOH aqueous NH3 aqueous NH3
NaOH
Ammonium --------------- ----------------
(NH4)+
Copper
(Cu 2+)
Calcium
(Ca2+)
Iron (II)
(Fe2+)
Iron (III)
(Fe3+)
Zinc
(Zn2+)

FLAME TESTS:RESULTS

Cation Colour of flame

Sodium

Potassium

Calcium

Copper

TESTS FOR ANIONS: RESULTS

Anion Test Results

Carbonate Add dilute HNO3

(CO32-)
Chloride Add 1 drop HNO3 solution,
(Cl-) then AgNO3 solution
Iodide Add 1 drop HNO3 solution
(I-) Then Pb(NO3)2 solution
Nitrate (NO3-) Add 10 drops NaOH, next
Al foil ; then warm carefully
Sulphate (SO42-) Add 1 drop HNO3 solution,
then BaCl2 solution