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substance in water and carry out tests on the aqueous solution. Aqueous means a
solution in water. You may come across a non-aqueous solution using a non-aqueo
us solvent like alcohol or hexane.
AND don't forget, negative test results are just as important as positive result
s, you may need to eliminate possibilities as well as confirm the presence of a
particular ion or gas etc.
UNFORTUNATELY, not all tests are unique for a particular ion, but this shouldn't
be a problem in school chemistry!
Associated qualitative analysis links
See index at top of page Typical qualitative tests are described in Parts 2 to 5
.
Summary of some cation and anion tests for GCSE/IGCSE/O Level students
(b) QUANTITATIVE CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
Quantitative analysis gives you (hopefully) a precise measure of how much of a s
ubstance is present or its concentration in a sample being analysed e.g. ore ana
lysis tells you whether it is worth exploiting for a metal, the purity of drug e
nsure no harmful impurities in it, blood sample analysis for alcohol allows the
police to decide to prosecute for 'being over the limit'. With a large sample yo
u have spare material to repeat the quantitative analysis several times to get t
he most statistically valid result.
In schools and colleges you can do quite accurate titrations to illustrate quant
itative analysis.
Associated quantitative links
% purity of a product (GCSE/IGCSE/O level, introduction for Advanced Level)
Volumetric titration analysis methods and calculations (GCSE/IGCSE/O level, intr
oduction for Advanced Level)
Various non-redox titration methods and questions (Advanced Level, acid-alkali,
EDTA, silver nitrate etc.)
Various redox titration methods and questions (Advanced Level, potassium mangana
te(VII), thiosulfate/iodine etc.)
Other Associated Qualitative or Quantitative Analysis LINKS (GCSE/IGCSE Level)
Instrumental Methods of Chemical Analysis
Chromatography - Paper/Thin Layer Chromatography and Gas Chromatography
GCSE/IGCSE Revision QUIZ on chemical tests for identifying ions, gases and compo
unds
Part 1 contd. Alphabetical TEST INDEX for cations, anions, organic functional gr
oups etc.
Full list of KEYWORDS for inorganic/organic identification methods in alphabetic
al order e.g. test/reagent for: * acid ==> H+ * acid/acyl chloride RCOCl * alcoh
ols
general ROH/prim RCH2OH/sec R2CHOH/tert R3COH) * aldehyde RCHO * prim alipha
tic amine R NH2 * aliphatic/aromatic carboxylic acids * alkali ==> OH * alkane/alke
, but finally these overlap and extend into those needed for GCE Advanced AS or
A2 level. In the organic section, only the alkene test is in GCSE double award s
cience, but some others might be found in a full single or coordinated triple aw
ard GCSE syllabus.
If any GCSE/IGCSE/GCE/AS/A2/IB/US grade 8 12 K12 test seems missing, just let
me know by email
These days more emphasis is given to modern spectroscopic methods of analysi
s such as NMR, Infrared, Mass spectrometry, Atomic Emission etc. Quite correctl
y, though updating A level chemistry is intellectually challenging at times, it
isn't always as much fun!
The methods described give no recipe details or risk assessment, just basica
lly what is needed, what you see and what you can or cannot deduce. Consult teac
her, 'practical' text books and Hazcards before attempting any analysis.
Most tests involve 'standard' chemical reactions and few tests are totally s
pecific so observations should be viewed in context, i.e. is this a realistic de
duction in that particular situation?
Please remember each syllabus has its own 'list' of required tests
'over learn'
check out what is needed!
so do not
There is a web page covering the methods some safety aspects of "Preparing a
nd collecting gases".
Use the alphabetical list to find the test you need.Advanced Chemistry Page
Index and Links
HAZARD WARNING SYMBOLS (signs or labels)
A brief description of what the hazard might be.
hazard signsbiohazardBiohazard: Biohazardous materials include anything that may
cause disease in living organisms or cause significant impact to the environme
nt or community.
NEW SECTION currently working on the table of examples below.
WARNING
For all experiments, appropriate risk assessments should be done
and hazcards studied etc. This section just illustrates the use of hazard warni
ng signs with common examples, and may NOT provide sufficient detail for specifi
c experiments, concentrations, coursework write up etc., but Google can!
Symbol Examples of what might be labelled/classified with this hazard warning s
ign (definitions above)
hazard Irritant: Most acidic and alkaline solutions unless very dilute; acidic
gases like chlorine, sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide; bleaches
hazard Harmful - poisonous but not toxic: Some acids e.g. nitric acid; acidic g
ases like chlorine, sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide; bleaches; heavy metal ion
s e.g. of lead, barium and copper (e.g. as copper sulfate) some salts e.g. silve
r nitrate,
hazard Corrosive: All concentrated acidic and alkaline solutions e.g. conc. sul
furic acid, conc. sodium hydroxide solution, non-metals like bromine
hazard
Highly flammable: Most organic solvents, petrol and other hydrocarbon fu
els, alkali metals?
hazard Toxic - very poisonous: Chlorine, iodine, sulphur dioxide, hydrogen cyan