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Identification Of Ions & Gases

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Notes de leçon

Identification of Anions

  • Carbonate (CO₃²⁻): Add dilute acid → CO₂ gas → bubble through limewater → turns cloudy/milky (white CaCO₃ precipitate).
  • Halide (Cl⁻, Br⁻, I⁻): Acidify with dilute HNO₃, add AgNO₃(aq) → coloured precipitate: Cl⁻ = white (AgCl), Br⁻ = cream (AgBr), I⁻ = yellow (AgI).
  • Nitrate (NO₃⁻): Add aq. NaOH + Al foil, warm gently → ammonia gas (turns damp red litmus blue).
  • Sulfate (SO₄²⁻): Acidify with dilute HNO₃, add BaCl₂(aq) or Ba(NO₃)₂ → white precipitate (BaSO₄).
  • Sulfite (SO₃²⁻): Add dilute acid, warm, bubble gas through acidified KMnO₄ → purple to colourless.

Testing for carbonate ions

Testing for carbonate ions

Identification of Cations – NaOH Test

  • Add few drops aq. NaOH → observe precipitate colour; then excess NaOH → note solubility.
  • Al³⁺: white ppt, soluble in excess NaOH → colourless solution.
  • NH₄⁺: ammonia gas on warming (turns damp red litmus blue).
  • Ca²⁺: white ppt, insoluble in excess NaOH.
  • Cr³⁺: green ppt, soluble in excess NaOH.
  • Cu²⁺: light blue ppt, insoluble in excess NaOH.
  • Fe²⁺: green ppt, insoluble in excess, surface turns brown on standing.
  • Fe³⁺: red-brown ppt, insoluble in excess.
  • Zn²⁺: white ppt, soluble in excess NaOH → colourless solution.

Metal cations with sodium hydroxide

Metal cations with sodium hydroxideMetal ionFew drops NaOHExcess NaOHAl3+white precipitatesoluble, colourlessNH4+ammonia on warming-Ca2+white precipitateinsolubleCr3+green precipitatesolubleCu2+light blue precipitateinsolubleFe2+green precipitateinsoluble, brownsFe3+red-brown precipitateinsolubleZn2+white precipitatesoluble, colourless

Identification of Cations – Ammonia Test

  • Add few drops aq. NH₃ → observe precipitate; then excess NH₃ → note solubility.
  • Al³⁺: white ppt, insoluble in excess NH₃.
  • Ca²⁺: no ppt or very slight white ppt; no change with excess.
  • Cr³⁺: green ppt, insoluble in excess NH₃.
  • Cu²⁺: light blue ppt, soluble in excess NH₃ → dark blue solution.
  • Fe²⁺: green ppt, insoluble in excess, surface turns brown.
  • Fe³⁺: red-brown ppt, insoluble in excess.
  • Zn²⁺: white ppt, soluble in excess NH₃ → colourless solution.

Metal cations with ammonia

Metal cations with ammoniaMetal ion2-3 drops NH3Excess NH3Al3+white precipitateinsolubleCa2+none / slight whiteno changeCr3+green precipitateinsolubleCu2+light blue precipitatesoluble, dark blueFe2+green precipitateinsoluble, brownsFe3+red-brown precipitateinsolubleZn2+white precipitatesoluble, colourless

Flame Tests for Metal Cations

  • Clean nichrome or platinum wire by dipping in conc. HCl and heating until no colour.
  • Dip wire into sample and hold in blue Bunsen flame.
  • Li⁺ = red; Na⁺ = yellow; K⁺ = lilac; Ca²⁺ = orange-red; Ba²⁺ = light green; Cu²⁺ = blue-green.

Flame test colours

Flame test coloursCationFlame colourLi+RedNa+YellowK+LilacCa2+Orange-redBa2+Light greenCu2+Blue-green

Identification of Gases

  • Ammonia (NH₃): damp red litmus turns blue; sharp choking smell.
  • Carbon dioxide (CO₂): bubble through limewater → turns cloudy/milky.
  • Chlorine (Cl₂): damp blue litmus turns red then bleached white; toxic – use fume cupboard.
  • Hydrogen (H₂): burning splintsqueaky pop (rapid combustion).
  • Oxygen (O₂): glowing splintrelights (or glows brightly).
  • Sulfur dioxide (SO₂): bubble through acidified KMnO₄ → purple to colourless; sharp choking smell.

Testing for ammonia gas

Testing for ammonia gas

Key Tips & Common Mistakes

  • For carbonate test: describe the test (bubble gas through limewater), not just the result.
  • Halide test: use HNO₃ to acidify, not HCl (Cl⁻ would interfere).
  • Sulfate test: add HNO₃ first to remove carbonates that also give white ppt.
  • Add NaOH/NH₃ slowly – some ppts dissolve in excess, so initial ppt may be missed.
  • Distinguish colourless (no colour) vs clear (transparent, may be coloured).
  • Flame test: sample must be pure (single cation) to avoid mixed colours.

Diapos

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  1. 1.What is the test for carbonate ions?

    Easy
    • AAdd dilute acid and bubble the gas through limewater; limewater turns cloudy.
    • BAdd silver nitrate solution; a white precipitate forms.
    • CAdd barium chloride solution; a white precipitate forms.
    • DAdd sodium hydroxide and warm; damp red litmus turns blue.
  2. 2.Which gas is produced when ammonium ions are warmed with sodium hydroxide solution?

    Easy
    • AAmmonia
    • BNitrogen
    • CHydrogen
    • DOxygen
  3. 3.What is the colour of the precipitate formed when chloride ions are tested with silver nitrate solution?

    Easy
    • AWhite
    • BCream
    • CYellow
    • DNo precipitate
  4. 4.A solution gives a white precipitate with barium nitrate solution after adding dilute nitric acid. Which ion is present?

    Medium
    • ASulfate
    • BCarbonate
    • CChloride
    • DNitrate
  5. 5.A green precipitate forms when sodium hydroxide is added to a solution. The precipitate dissolves in excess sodium hydroxide. Which cation is present?

    Medium
    • AChromium(III)
    • BIron(II)
    • CCopper(II)
    • DAluminium
  6. 6.Which gas relights a glowing splint?

    Easy
    • AOxygen
    • BHydrogen
    • CCarbon dioxide
    • DChlorine
  7. 7.A student adds dilute hydrochloric acid to a solid and bubbles the gas through limewater. The limewater turns cloudy. What can be concluded?

    Medium
    • AThe solid contains carbonate ions.
    • BThe solid contains sulfite ions.
    • CThe solid contains hydrogencarbonate ions.
    • DThe solid contains carbonate or hydrogencarbonate ions.
  8. 8.What is the colour of the flame produced by potassium ions in a flame test?

    Easy
    • AYellow
    • BLilac
    • CRed
    • DGreen

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