QUALITATIVE ANALYSIS

Preliminary Tests these tests include

1. Appearance
Note the colour:If the compound and its solution are colourless - possible absence of transition metals
If the compound and its solution are coloured possible presence of transition metals
If the compound is black possible oxide or sulphide

2. Flame tests notes given in class

3. Action of heat
(a) If on gentle heating
-

Water condenses at the top of the tube, then solid is a hydrate or contains water of crystallization
NB: Test for water:1. Water turns blue cobalt chloride paper pink
2. White anhydrous copper (II) sulphate blue.

(b) If on strongly heating

(I)

Carbon dioxide, CO2, (colourless, odourless) evolved which indicates that a carbonate, CO 2-3, or
hydrogen carbonate, HCO-3, were heated. [ CO2 turns lime water cloudy]

Qualitative Analysis MCastle 2010[Type text]

Page 1

(II)

Ammonia, NH3, (colourless, pungent odour) evolved which indicates that a NH 4+ compound was
heated. [Ammonia turns red litmus paper blue and forms white fumes with HCl(g)]

(III)

Sulphur dioxide, SO2, (colourless, choking odour) evolved, indicates that a sulphide, S 2-, sulphite,
SO2-3, or sulphate, SO2-4, was burnt. [SO2 turns orange K2Cr2O7/H+ green and purple KMnO4/H+
colourless]

(IV)

Nitrogen dioxide, NO2, (reddish brown, pungent odour) evolved indicates that a nitrate, NO -3, was
burnt. [NO2 turns blue litmus paper red]

(V)

Iodine, I2, (purple vapour) evolved indicates iodide ions, I -.

(VI)

No reaction indicates that an ionic compound with high lattice energy was heated.

4. Action of dilute HCl

(I) CO2-3 or HCO-3: production of effervescence, gas turns lime water cloudy
(II) SO2-3: production of SO2
(III) Nitrite, NO-2, production of NO2.

SEE CATIONS ON OTHER DOCUMENT

Qualitative Analysis MCastle 2010[Type text]

Page 2

ANIONS
Carbonates
-

Addition of dilute HCl [see #4 above] CO 2-3 (s) + 2H+ (aq) H2O

Addition of aqueous Barium salt A white precipitate (ppt) of barium carbonate BaCO 3 is formed. The
ppt is soluble in dilute acids with the evolution of CO 2.

Concentrated sulphuric acid in the presence of copper turnings - NO 2 is evolved; the HNO3(aq) acid
formed reacts with the copper to produce NO 2 and the resulting solution is greenish blue due to the
presence of copper (II) ions, Cu2+(aq). 4HNO3 (aq) +
Cu(s) Cu (NO3)2(aq) + 2NO2 (g) + 2H2O (l).

Using Aluminium or zinc powder in sodium hydroxide solution - NH 3 (g) is evolved on heating a nitrate
with this mixture.

(l)

+ CO2 (g).

Nitrates

Sulphate ions
-

Using Barium chloride, BaCl 2 (aq), or Barium nitrate, Ba(NO3)2(aq), solution. In the presence of dilute HCl or
HNO3, a white ppt of BaSO4 is formed which is soluble in warm concentrated HCl.
Ba 2+ (aq) + SO2-4
BaSO4 (s).
This test is carried out in the presence of dilute HCl or dilute HNO 3 to prevent
(aq)
the carbonates and sulphites from precipitating out.

Using lead (II) ions, Pb2+ - A white ppt of lead (II) sulphate is formed which is soluble in warm/hot
concentrated H2SO4. Pb2+(aq)
+
SO2-4(aq) PbSO3(s).

Sulphite ions

Qualitative Analysis MCastle 2010[Type text]

Page 3

Using dilute HCl/H2SO4 - Sulphur dioxide, SO2(g), is evolved on warming. SO2+3(aq) + 2H+(aq) SO2(g)
+ H2O(l).

Using Barium solutions - A white ppt of BaSO 3 is formed which is readily soluble in dilute HCl with the
evolution of SO2.
Ba2+ (aq) + SO2-3 (aq) BaSO3 (s).

Using silver nitrate solution A white ppt of silver sulphate, Ag 2SO4 is formed. It turns from grey to
black on warming due to the decomposition to silver. 2Ag +(aq) + SO2-3(aq) Ag2SO4(s).

Using lead (II) ions, Pb2+ - A white ppt of lead (II) sulphite is formed which is soluble in dilute HNO 3.
Pb2+ (aq) + SO2-3 (aq) PbSO3 (s).

Chromate ions -- CrO2-4

-

Using silver nitrate solution A red brown ppt of Ag2CrO4 is formed. The ppt is soluble in ammonia NH 3
2Ag+(aq) + CrO2-4(aq) Ag2CrO4(s).
(aq) and in dilute nitric acid, HNO 3.

Using Barium solution - A pale yellow ppt of BaCrO4 is formed. The ppt is insoluble in ethanoic acid,
CH3COOH but soluble in strong acids. Ba 2+(aq) + CrO2-4(aq) BaCrO4(s).

Using lead (II) ions, Pb2+ - A yellow ppt of lead (II) chromate is formed which is insoluble in ethanoic
acid, CH3COOH but soluble in nitric acid, HNO3.
Pb2+ (aq) + CrO2-4 (aq) PbCrO4 (s).

Chloride ion
-

Using silver nitrate solution AgNO3(aq). - A white ppt of AgCl is formed which is soluble in NH 3(aq), to form
the complex ion Ag(NH3)+2.
Ag+(aq) +
Cl-(aq)
AgCl(s).

Using conc. H2SO4. Hydrogen chloride is evolved as a colourless pungent vapour. It turns blue litmus
paper red and forms white fumes with NH3(g). H2SO4(l) + Cl-(aq) HCl(g) + HSO-4(aq).

Qualitative Analysis MCastle 2010[Type text]

Page 4

Using lead (II) ions A white ppt of PbCl 2 is formed. The ppt dissolves on heating and reprecipitates on
cooling.
Pb2+ (aq) + 2Cl- (aq) PbCl2 (s).

Bromide ion
-

Using silver nitrate solution AgNO3(aq). - An off white ppt of AgBr is formed which is sparingly soluble in
NH3(aq) and insoluble in dilute nitric acid, HNO 3.
Ag+(aq) +
Br-(aq)
AgBr(s).

Using conc. H2SO4. Reddish brown vapours of bromine and hydrogen bromide are evolved. Hydrogen
bromide is initially formed but oxidised to bromine H 2SO4(l) + Br-(aq) HBr(g) + HSO-4(aq).

Using lead (II) ions A white ppt of PbBr 2 is formed. The ppt dissolves on heating and reprecipitates on
cooling.
Pb2+ (aq) + 2Br- (aq) PbBr2 (s).

Iodide ion
-

Using silver nitrate solution AgNO3(aq). - A yellow or cream ppt of AgI is formed which is insoluble in
NH3(aq) and insoluble in dilute HNO3.
Ag+(aq) +
I-(aq)
AgI(s).

Using conc. H2SO4. Iodine is liberated ass a black or violet ppt. On warming violet vapours of iodine
are evolved. Hydrogen iodide is initially formed but is then oxidized to iodine. H 2SO4(l) + I-(aq) HI(g)
+ HSO-4(aq).
2HI (g) + (O) I2(s) + H2O(l).

Using lead (II) ions A yellow ppt of PbI2 is formed. It is soluble in excess of the iodide solution.
Pb2+ (aq) + 2I- (aq) PbI2 (s),
PbI2(s) + 2I-(aq) [PbI4]2+(aq).

Qualitative Analysis MCastle 2010[Type text]

Page 5