Identification of salts.

Salts – ionic substances

made of anions (negatively charged ions)
and cations (positively charged ions)

Testing for cations

Cations identified by their reaction with sodium hydroxide solution and aqueous
-
ammonia. (Both are alkalis and hence produce OH ions which react with the cations
being tested).

Cations are identified by the formation of precipitates. (These are insoluble solids
formed during the reaction of the cation with the alkali). Some cations do not form
precipitates with alkalis.

The precipitates formed may be soluble or insoluble in excess alkali (i.e when excess
alkali is added to the solution containing the cation).

The precipitates are formed when a metal ion (cation) reacts with the hydroxide ion
–
(OH ion) from the alkali. Hence precipitate formed is an insoluble metal hydroxide.

+
If the cation present is the ammonium cation, NH4 , it produces ammonia gas when
heated with the alkali (sodium hydroxide). The ammonia gas can then be tested with
moist red litmus paper which turns blue in the presence of ammonia gas.

The cation may be identified by the colour of the precipitate formed and also whether
the precipitate is soluble or insoluble in excess alkali.

When the precipitate is soluble in excess alkali, it forms a complex ion which is
soluble.

3+ -
e.g Al (aq) + 3 OH (aq) Al(OH)3(s)

- +
OH H

-
[Al(OH)4] (aq)
complex ion(soluble)

Note:

All cations form precipitates with sodium hydroxide solution and aqueous ammonia
+ + + 2+
except Na , K , NH4 . Ca does not form precipitate with aqueous ammonia.

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 Effect of aqueous sodium hydroxide and aqueous ammonia on cations.

Cation Reaction with sodium hydroxide Reaction with aqueous

solution dropwise and in excess ammonia dropwise and in
excess
A white ppte of aluminium A white ppte of aluminium
Al
3+ hydroxide is formed. The ppte is hydroxide is formed. The ppte is
soluble in excess sodium hydroxide insoluble in excess aqueous
solution to give a colourless solution ammonia.
(a complex ion is formed).
A white ppte of zinc hydroxide is A white ppte of zinc hydroxide is
Zn
2+ formed. The ppte is soluble in formed. The ppte dissolves in
excess sodium hydroxide solution to excess aqueous ammonia to give a
give a colourless solution. colourless solution (a complex ion
is formed).
A white ppte of calcium hydroxide No visible reaction occurs.
Ca
2+ is formed. The ppte is insoluble in
excess sodium hydroxide solution.
A dirty green ppte of iron (II) A dirty green ppte of iron (II)
Fe
2+ hydroxide is formed, which slowly hydroxide is formed. The ppte is
turns brown when left in air. The insoluble in excess aqueous
ppte is insoluble in excess sodium ammonia.
hydroxide solution.
A reddish-brown ppte of iron (III) A reddish-brown ppte of iron (III)
Fe
3+ hydroxide is formed. The ppte is hydroxide is formed. The ppte is
insoluble in excess sodium insoluble in excess aqueous
hydroxide solution. ammonia.
A blue ppte of copper (II) hydroxide A blue ppte of copper (II)
Cu
2+ is formed. The ppte is insoluble in hydroxide is formed. The ppte
excess sodium hydroxide solution. dissolves in excess aqueous
ammonia to give a dark blue
solution (a complex ion is formed)
Cr3+ A green ppte of chromium (III) A green ppte of chromium (III)
hydroxide is formed which is hydroxide is formed which is
soluble in excess sodium hydroxide insoluble in excess aqueous
to form a green solution. ammonia.
No ppte is formed. On heating, No visible reaction occurs.
NH4
+ ammonia gas is liberated which
turns moist red litmus paper blue.
+
K & Na
+ No visible reaction occurs. No visible reaction occurs.

Identification of anions

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Anions can be tested in the laboratory by using the following tests:

Anion Test Observation and conclusion

Add dil HCl and pass the gas into Effervescence is observed. The
CO3
2- lime water. lime water turns milky. Carbon
dioxide is liberated.
SO3
2- Add dil HCl and warm. Test the The potassium manganate (VII)
gas with acidified potassium changes from purple to colourless.
manganate (VII) paper.
Add dil HCl. Then add barium A white ppte of barium sulfate is
SO4
2- chloride solution. formed. The ppte is insoluble in
dil HCl.
Add dil HNO3. Then add silver A white ppte of AgCl is formed.
-
Cl nitrate solution. The ppte is insoluble in dil HNO3.
Add lead (II) nitrate solution. A white ppte of lead (II) chloride
is formed.
Add dil HNO3. Then add silver A yellow ppt of AgI is formed.
-
I nitrate solution. The ppte is insoluble in dil HNO3
Add lead (II) nitrate solution. A canary yellow ppte of lead (II)
Iodide is formed.
Add dil NaOH solution. Then add The red litmus paper turns blue.
NO3
- a piece of aluminium foil. Warm Ammonia gas is liberated.
the mixture. Test the gas liberated
with moist red litmus paper.

Chemical test for water.

Pure water is colourless and odourless. There are two chemical tests which can be
used to detect the presence of water.

1. Water changes the colour of anhydrous copper (II) sulfate from white to blue.

CuSO4 (s) + 5 H2O (l) CuSO4.5H2O (s)

Anhydrous Hydrated
Copper (II) sulfate copper (II) sulfate
(white) (Blue)

2. Water also changes the colour of dry cobalt (II) chloride paper from blue to pink.

CoCl2 (s) + 6 H2O (l) CoCl2.6H2O (s)

Anhydrous Hydrated
Cobalt (II) chloride Cobalt (II) chloride
(blue) (pink)

Note:

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The above tests can only be used to detect the presence of water. It cannot be used to
detect the purity of water.

Test for gases

When a salt is being tested in the laboratory, a gas is often liberated. Gases can be
identified by the following tests:

Gas Colour & odour Test Observations

Hydrogen Colourless & Place a lighted splinter The lighted splinter is
odourless at the mouth of the test- extinguished with a 'pop'
tube containing the gas. sound.
Oxygen Colourless & Insert a glowing The glowing splinter
odourless splinter into the test- relights / rekindles.
tube.
Carbon Colourless & Bubble the gas through The lime water turns milky
dioxide odourless lime water. (a white ppte of calcium
carbonate is formed)
Chlorine Greenish- Place a piece of moist The blue litmus paper
yellow gas with blue litmus paper at the turns red and is then
a pungent smell mouth of the test-tube bleached (turns white).
containing the gas.
Sulfur Colourless gas Place a piece of filter The potassium manganate
dioxide with the smell paper soaked in (VII) paper changes from
of fire crackers acidified potassium purple to colourless.
manganate (VII) paper.
Ammonia Colourless gas Place a piece of moist The red litmus paper turns
with a pungent red litmus paper at the blue.
smell mouth of the test-tube
containing the gas.