Lab no.

12
Date: 25/02/2019
Title: qualitative analysis
Aim: to analyze and determine the ions present in substance Y
Introduction:
Qualitative analysis involves identifying the components of a substance or mixture by identifying
the different ions present in said mixture. To determine the ions present, various tests can be carried
and the respective results will reveal the ions in the solution. In the experiment, substance Y which
was a mixture of two solids was analyzed.
Apparatus:
Sample Y
Test tubes
Filter paper and funnel
Bench reagents – NH3, NaOH, HNO3, Ba (NO3)2, HCL
Materials for testing gas
Method:
1. All of sample Y was dissolved in 20cm3 of distilled water to make a solution of Y1
2. The mixture was filtered and the filtrate was used for tests a to c as outlined in table one
below.
3. The residue was washed and used for test d to g as outline in table one below.
Results
Table 1: table showing the observations and inferences made for each test
Test Observations Inference
To a little of the filtrate: A white precipitate was Y1 is soluble in excess
a) Aqueous sodium formed when NaOH was NaOH. The solution
hydroxide was added added dropwise. The contained either Al3+, Pb2+,
dropwise until in precipitate was soluble in Zn2+
excess excess and dissolved to form
a colourless solution.
b) Aqueous ammonia A white precipitate which Y1 is soluble in excess
was added dropwise was soluble in excess ammonia. Zn2+ ion present.
until in excess. ammonia was formed. The
precipitate dissolved to form
a colourless solution.
 c) Aqueous barium A white precipitate was form Y1 is insoluble in HNO3.
nitrate was added which was insoluble in excess SO42- ion present.
followed by nitric barium nitrate was formed.
acid. The precipitate did not
dissolve when the acid was
added.
Test on residue Vigorous effervescence. CO3 2- ion present. CO2 gas
d) The residue was White precipitate was formed evolved.
transferred into a test which was insoluble in excess
tube and nitric acid acid.
was added. The gas The gas evolved turned
was tested. CaOh2 milky white.
The solution was filtered and A white precipitate which Zn 2+, Al 3+ or Pb 2+ ions
divided into three parts was soluble in excess sodium present.
e) Aqueous sodium hydroxide was formed. The
hydroxide was added precipitate dissolved to form
to one part until in a colourless solution.
excess
f) Aqueous ammonia A white precipitate was Al3+ or Pb 2+ ions present.
was added to the formed which was insoluble
second part until in in excess ammonia.
excess.
g) Dilute HCL was White precipitate formed Pb 2+ ions present.
added to the last part. which was insoluble in excess
HCL.

Discussion:
Substance Y was a mixture of two solids, Y1 and Y2. Y1 was known to be soluble in water while
Y2 was known to be insoluble in water. By adding Y to a quantity of water, a solution of Y1 was
formed as it dissolved in the water. Y2 which was insoluble was filtered out to get a solution of y1
only. Through various tests with sodium hydroxide, ammonia, barium nitrate and nitric acid, it
was determined that Y1 was ZnSO4. Since y2 was insoluble in water, it was the reside when the
solution of y was filtered. This residue was used to identify the ions present in Y2. Y2 was found
to be PbCO3.
Precaution was taken to ensure that the colour changes were observed in front of a white
background. A source of error that occurred was that some of the gas evolved when nitric acid was
added to the residue of Y2 escaped the test tube before it was stopper.