H2 Chemistry

Test for Cations

NaOH (aq)

White

Off-white

2+
2+
Ca Mg
3+
2+
Al Pb
2+
Zn

Mn

2+

Grey-green

Cr

Green

3+

Fe

Red-brown

2+

Fe

Light-blue

3+

Cu

No ppt
Ba2+
+
NH4 : NH3 gas

2+

produced upon heating

Dark Green

Colourless

3
[Cr(OH)6]

[Al(OH)4]
2
[Pb(OH)4]
2
[Zn(OH)4]

3+
2+
To differentiate Al from Pb
2+
3+
Add NaCl, Pb can form ppt, not Al

NH3 (aq)
i.e. Zn(OH)2

White

Al

3+

Mg

2+

Pb

Off-white

2+

2+
Zn
Colourless

2
[Zn(NH3)4]

Mn

2+

Grey-green

Cr

3+

Green

Fe

2+

Red-brown

Fe

3+

Pale-blue

Cu

2+

Deep Blue
2
[Cu(NH3)4]

no ppt

Ca2+, Ba2+

Test for Anions

CO2

CO gas liberated with acid

Cl

forms white ppt. AgCl with Ag+

(dissolves in dilute NH: [Ag(NH)]+)

forms white ppt. PbCl with Pb2+

All Pb2+ forms [PbX4]2-

Br

forms white ppt. AgBr with Ag+

(dissolves in conc. NH)

forms cream ppt. PbBr with Pb2+

forms yellow ppt. AgCl with Ag+

forms yellow ppt. PbI with Pb2+

Nitrate, NO

NH gas liberated upon heating with Al

foil and OH

Nitrile, NO

Sulfate SO42

colourless NO liberates in dilute acid

solution
NO oxidises into brown NO in air
forms white ppt BaSO4 and BaSO3 with
Ba2+

Sulfite SO2

Gives SO with dilute acid

Pb2+ and Ca2+ also forms corresponding
white ppt

CrO42 (VI)
and Cr2O72

Test with acid or alkali

(yellow) 2CrO42 + 2H+

SO2 + 2H+ HO + SO

Cr2O72 (orange)

Test for Gas

ammonia, NH

litmus turns blue

pH > 7

CO

gives a white ppt

Ca(OH) + CO CaCO + HO

Cl

bleaches damp litmus paper

causes a pop sound with lighted splint

relights a glowing splint

SO

turns purple acidified KMNO4 colourless

SO is reducing agent

Colours of Reducing & Oxidising Agents

Mn2+ Colourless

MnO4- (VII) Purple

MnO42- (VI)Green

MnO2 Brown ppt

Cr2O72- (VI) Orange

Cr3+ Green

Fe2+ Pale Green

Fe3+ Yellow

I- colourless

I2 brown (aq)