Experiment 2: The Copper-Arsenic Group

Element & their Characteristics Precipitate/Reduced/ Soluble/ dissolve Insoluble/ Does

Oxidized Product in.. not dissolve in..

Bismuth (Bi3+)

More stable= +3 oxidation state

A. Aqueous Ammonia White bismuth acid Excess ammonia

hydoxide [Bi(OH)3 (S)] or sodium
hydroxide
B. Sodium Hydroxide White bismuth
hydoxide [Bi(OH)3 (S)]

C. Chloride Ion White BiOCls

D. Reducing Agent: Small black particles

of metallic bismuth
Stannite Ion reduces Bismuth
hydroxide to.…

*(Stannite Ion= SnCl w/ excess

Sodium hydroxide)

Cadmium (Cd+2)

A. Aqueous Ammonia White cadmium Excess ammonia

hydroxide
[Cd(OH)2(s)]
*(Cd(NH3)42+ ) + 6M
NaOH = White basic
salt of unknown
formula (not soluble
in excess ammonia)

B. Sodium Hydroxide White cadmium Excess hydroxide

hydroxide
[Cd(OH)2(s)]

C. Hydrogen Sulfide (basic, Yellow-orange 1. Hot dilute Nitric

neutral, acidic) cadmium sulfide Acid

2. 3M HCl

3. hot, dilute H2SO4

Copper (Cu+2)

~More common= +2 oxidation

rate than +1

~Copper (II)= blue hydrated ion

[Cu(H2O)4]+2

A. Aqueous Ammonia Light Blue Cu(OH)2 Excess ammonia to

form a dark blue
(& some basic salts
complex ion
may form)
(Cu(NH3)4)2+ (aq)

B. Sodium Hydroxide Light Blue Cu(OH)2 Excess sodium

hydroxide unless
NaOH sol. is very
concentrated

C. Potassium Ferrocyanide Red-brown copper Aqueous ammonia

(II) ferrocyanide
*not a very good agent for
(Cu2[Fe(CN)6]
separating metal ions

*used more commonly as a

confirmatory test

Lead (Pb+2)

~more stable= +2 oxidation state

A. Chloride Ion (soluble White lead chloride 1. Too dilute

chlorides) PbCl2 (s) solution

*Hydrochloric acid 2. Excess chloride

ion to form
tetrachloroplumbat
e (II) complex ion
(PbCl4)-2 (aq)

B. Sulfate Ion (soluble sulfates) White lead sulfate Concentrated

PbSO4 (s) solutions of
*Sulfuric acid
hydroxide or
*less soluble than
acetate ions
lead chloride

*Lead acetate= slightly

dissociated but soluble

C. Sodium Hydroxide Lead (II) hydroxide Excess hydroxide

PbOH2 (s)

Antimony (Sb+3)

~more stable= +3 oxidation state

A. Aqueous Ammonia White Sb(OH)3 1. Excess hydroxide

B. Sodium Hydroxide *amphoteric 2. Acid

C. Hydrogen Sulfide Red Sb2S3 1. Sols. of hot NaOH

w/c contain excess
*under moderately acidic
sulfide ion
conditions
2. Hot, concentrated
(12M) HCl

D. Water Basic, white,

insoluble salt SbOCl
*SbCl4 in HCl + excess water

E. Reducing agents: Sb metal (black

particles)
*SbCl4 in HCl + Al/Fe

Tin (Sn2+ & Sn4+)

~in Aq sol= both= complex ions

= undergo hydrolysis

=aged sol become acidic

(Acid should be added to

prevent hydrolysis)

Tin (IV) Chloride

~ colorless liquid

~soluble in organic solvents

~nonconductor of electricity

~molecular compound

Tin (II) Chloride

~Strong reducing agent

~easily oxidized by atmospheric

oxygen

*Metallic Tin added to SnCl2 to

prevent oxidation

A. Chloride Ion No visible rxn

Tin (II)= (SnCl4)-2

Tin (IV)= (SnCl6)-2

B. Aqueous Ammonia White Sn(OH)2 Excess aqueous

ammonia
White Sn(OH)4
C. Sodium Hydroxide Sn(OH)2 Excess hydroxide

Sn(OH)4

D. Hydrogen Sulfide Tin (II)= Brown SnS SnS2= Soluble in

excess S-2
*in mildly acidic sol. Tin (IV)= Light Yellow
SnS2 =presence of
ammonia

=6M HCl

SnS= Soluble in 12M

HCl

Reducing & Oxidizing Agents:

*In HCl sol + Metallic Fe/ Sn (IV) to Sn (II)

Metallic Al reduces…

*In HCl sol, Sn (II) reduces..

HgCl2 to Hg2Cl2
(White) or metallic
mercury (black) or
both

Bi(III) to metallic Bi
*In basic sol., Sn (II) reduces..

Arsenic (As+3)

~Most common oxidation

states= +3 and +5

~Gray, very brittle subs.,

Sublimes at 615 degrees.

~Combine readily with sulfur &

oxygen @ high temperatures.

A. Hydrogen Sulfide Yellow As2S3 1. Conc. HNO3 Dilute,

non-oxidizing
*in slightly acid solution 2. Ammoniacal H2O2
acids (HCl)
*no ppt from neutral to alkaline
sol.

B. Silver Ion Yellow silver arsenite Aqueous ammonia Water

*in neutral or slightly basic sol.

C. Oxidizing Agents

Cu(OH)2 + AsO3-3 oxidizes.. Arsenites (+3) to

Arsenates (+5)
*in alkaline or neutral sol.

D. Arsenic acid w/ magnesia White crystalline ppt.

mixture ( Mg(NO3)2 or MgCl2
with NH4NO3 or NH4CL )

E. Arsenous acid w/ magnesia No ppt.

mixture

F. Arsenate w/ ammonium Yellow crystalline

molybdate in HNO3 sol. warmed ppt. of ammonium
to 60-70 degrees celsius arsenomolybdate

*very similar in
appearance w/
ammonium
phosphomolybdate
except that it ppts in
cold sols.

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