Analytical Chemistry

Tests for cations, anions, gases and water

CATIONS: (Basic radicals/ Positive radicals)

1) Aluminium ions (Al3+)

2) Calcium ions (Ca2+)
3) Zinc ions (Zn2+)
4) Iron(II) ions (Fe2+)
5) Iron(III) ions (Fe3+)
6) Copper(II) ions (Cu2+)
7) Ammonium ions (NH41+)

ANIONS: (Acid radicals/ Negative radicals)

1) Chloride ions (Cl1-)

2) Bromide ions(Br1-)
Halides
3) Iodide ions(I1-)
4) Carbonate(CO32-)
5) Nitrate (NO31-)
6) Sulphate (SO42-)

GASES:

1) Hydrogen (H2)
2) Oxygen (O2)
3) Carbon dioxide (CO2)
4) Chlorine (Cl2)
5) Ammonia (NH3)
6) Sulfur dioxide (SO2)
7) Ethene (C2H4)
Tests for Cations:

Test for Action of NaOH(Aqueous) Action of NH4OH(Aqueous)

Al3+
- White ppt of Al(OH)3(s) - White ppt of Al(OH)3
soluble in excess of aqueous insoluble in excess of aqueous
NaOH forming a colourless
ammonia
solution
Al3+(aq) + 3 OH1-(aq)Al(OH)3(s)

Ca2+

- White ppt of Ca(OH)2 No precipitate

insoluble in excess of NaOH(aq)
Only white (milky) solution
2+ 1-
Ca (aq) + 2 OH  Ca(OH)2(s)
(aq)

Zn2+

- White ppt of Zn(OH)2(s) - White ppt of Zn(OH)2 soluble

soluble in excess of NaOH(aq) in excess of NH4OH(aq)
forming a colorless

Zn2+(aq)+ 2 OH1-(aq) Zn(OH)2(s)

Fe2+

- Dirty green ppt of Fe(OH)2 - Dirty green ppt of Fe(OH)2(s)

insoluble in excess insoluble in excess

Fe2+(aq)+ OH1-(aq)  Fe(OH)2(s)

Fe3+

- Reddish brown ppt or rusty - Reddish brown ppt or rusty

brown ppt of Fe(OH)3 insoluble brown ppt of Fe(OH)3 insoluble
in excess in excess

Fe3+(aq)+ 3 OH1-(aq) Fe(OH)3(s)

Cu2+

- Pale blue ppt of Cu(OH)2 - Pale blue ppt or light blue ppt
insoluble in excess of NaOH soluble in excess forming a deep
blue solution
Cu2+(aq)+ 2 OH1-(aq)Cu(OH)2(s)

NH41+ - Add NaOH solution to the

given ammonium salt & heat
gently

Observation: Strong smell of

ammonia gas which turns damp NO TEST
red litmus paper blue (Basic gas)

NH4Cl + NaOH  NaCl + NH3

+ H2O
Tests for Anions

Test for Test Test Result

Cl1-

- Add dilute HNO3+AgNO3(aq) - White ppt of AgCl (insoluble)

(acidified AgNO3) to the given
solution of chloride e.g: NaCl(aq)

Ag1+(aq)+ Cl1-(aq) AgCl (s)

Br1-

- Add dilute HNO3 +AgNO3(aq) to - Creamish or off white or

the given bromide salt solution slightly yellow ppt of AgBr
e.g: KBr(aq)

Ag1+(aq)+ Br1-(aq) AgBr(s)

I1-

- Add dilute HNO3 +AgNO3(aq) or - Bright yellow ppt of AgI

Pb(NO3)2 (aq) to the given bromide
salt solution e.g: KBr(aq)

Ag1+(aq)+ I1-(aq) AgI(s)

Pb2+(aq)+ I1-(aq) PbI2(s)

CO32-

- Add dilute HCl to the given - Brisk effervescency

carbonate bubbles/fizzing of CO2 turning
limewater milky/cloudy
CaCO3 + 2HCl  CaCl2 + CO2
+ H2O

SO42- - Add dilute HCl + BaCl2 (aq) to - White ppt of BaSO4

the given salt solution containing
 SO42- ions (insoluble)

Ba2+(aq)+ SO42-(aq) BaSO4(s)

Or

- Add dilute HNO3 + Ba(NO3)2

to the given sulfate salt solution
- White ppt of BaSO4

NO31-

- Add NaOH solution + - Strong smell of ammonia gas

Aluminium foil to the given which turns damp red litmus
nitrate solution and heat gently paper blue.

Test for gases

 Test for Test Test result

H2

- Expose a lighted match (splint) - It explodes with a POP sound

to the gas

Zn + 2 HCl  ZnCl2 + H2

O2

- Expose a glowing splint to the - It relights or starts burning

gas because O2 supports combustion

MnO2
2 H2O2 2 H2O2 + O2

CO2 Test 1

- Bubble the gas through - It turns cloudy/milky due to the

limewater
CO2 + Ca(OH)2 CaCO3 + H2O
When excess CO2 is bubbled,
solution turns colourless
CaCO3 + H2OCa(HCO3)2 +O2
formation of the insoluble
CaCO3 (limestone).
Milkyness disappears because of
the formation of soluble
Ca(HCO3)2

Test 2 - It goes off (extinguished)

- Lower a lighted splint in a gas CO2 is used as a fire
jar containing CO2 extinguisher
Cl2 Test 1

- Expose a damp litmus paper in - It would be bleached. Cl2 is

the gas used as bleaching agent.

Test 2

- Bubble the gas through - Brown layer of I2 forms at the

aqueous KI bottom of the test tube.

Cl2(g) + 2 KI(aq) 2 KCl(aq) + I2(l)

NH3 Test 1

- Expose a damp red litmus - It turns blue (basic gas)

paper to the gas

NH4Cl + NaOH  NaCl +NH3

+H2O

Test 2

- Expose a glass rod dipped in

HCl in NH3 gas - White dense fumes of NH4Cl(s)
NH3(g) + HCl (g)  NH4Cl(s)

SO2 Test 1

- Expose a filter paper strip - It turns from pink to colorless

dipped in acidified KMnO4 to the
gas

MnO4- SO
2 Mn2+

Test 2

- Expose a filter paper strip

dipped in acidified Potassium - It turns from orange to green
dichromate to the gas

Cr2O72- SO
2 Cr3+