NH4+, Na+, Mg2+, Ag+, Fe2+, Fe3+, Cu2+, Al3+, Pb2+, Zn2+, Ba2+

Identifying Cations

add 2 drops of dilute

NaOH solution.

litmus stays
red
Na+

add NaOH solution, heat,

test gas with red litmus.

no precipitate
NH4+, Na+

litmus goes
blue NH4+

Al(OH)3 + OH [Al(OH)4]
2Zn(OH)2 + 2OH [Zn(OH)4]
2Pb(OH)2 + 2OH [Pb(OH)4]
-

add excess
NaOH solution

white precipitate forms

Al3+, Zn2+, Pb2+, Mg2+, Ba2+
Al + 3OH Al(OH)3
2+
Zn + 2OH Zn(OH)2
2+
Pb + 2OH Pb(OH)2
2+
Mg + 2OH Mg(OH)2
2+
Ba + 2OH Ba(OH)2
3+

precipitate disappears
Al3+, Zn2+, Pb2+

new sample
precipitate remains
Mg2+, Ba2+

add 2 drops, then

excess NH3 solution

new sample
white precipitate forms
and disappears, Zn2+

add dilute H2SO4 solution

Zn + 2OH Zn(OH)2
2+
2+
Zn + 4NH3 [Zn(NH3)4]
2+

colourless solution
Mg2+

white precipitate
Ba2+
2+

2-

Ba + SO4

white precipitate forms

Al3+, Pb2+
Al + 3OH Al(OH)3
2+
Pb + 2OH Pb(OH)2
3+

BaSO4

new sample

add dilute H2SO4 solution

green precipitate forms
Fe2+
Fe + 2OH Fe(OH)2
2+

colourless solution
Al3+

white precipitate
Pb2+
Pb + SO4 PbSO4
2+

orange precipitate forms

Fe3+

new
sample

add 2 drops
KSCN solution

Fe + 3OH Fe(OH)3
3+

blue precipitate forms

Cu2+

dark red solution

confirms Fe3+
Fe + SCN FeSCN2+
3+

new
sample

add 2 drops, then excess

NH3 solution

Cu + 2OH Cu(OH)2
2+

2-

blue precipitate then

deep blue solution
Cu2+
Cu + 2OH Cu(OH)2
2+
2+
Cu + 4NH3 [Cu(NH3)4]
2+

brown precipitate forms

Ag+
2Ag + 2OH Ag2O + H2O
+

new
sample

add 2 drops, then excess

NH3 solution

brown precipitate
then colourless
solution Ag+

2Ag + 2OH Ag2O + H2O

+
+
Ag + 2NH3 [Ag(NH3)2]
+

Identifying Anions

CO32, Cl, I, SO42, NO3, OH

bubbles of gas
CO32

add red litmus

add dilute HCl

solution

litmus goes blue

OH, CO32

no bubbles
OH

litmus remains red

SO42, Cl, I, NO3

white precipitate
SO42

add Ba(NO3)2 solution

2+

2-

Ba + SO4

BaSO4

no precipitate

new sample
precipitate disappears
Cl

add AgNO3
solution

precipitate
Cl, I
Ag + Cl AgCl
+
Ag + I AgI
+

no precipitate
NO3

add dilute NH3

solution

Ag + 2NH3 [Ag(NH3)2]
+

precipitate remains
I

Formation of precipitates with either 2 drops of NaOH (or 2 drops of ammonia solution) (*)
Metal ion + hydroxide ion metal hydroxide precipitate
Al3+ + 3OH- Al(OH)3 (*)

Ba2+ + 2OH- Ba(OH)2

Zn2+ + 2OH- Zn(OH)2 (*)

Fe2+ + 2OH- Fe(OH)2

Pb2+ + 2OH- Pb(OH)2 (*)

Fe3+ + 3OH- Fe(OH)3

Mg2+ + 2OH- Mg(OH)2

Cu2+ + 2OH- Cu(OH)2 (*)

BUT 2Ag+ + 2OH- Ag2O + H2O (yes silver is different)

White hydroxide precipitates that dissolve in excess NaOH forming complex ions
Metal hydroxide + hydroxide ion soluble complex ion
M(OH)X + yOH- [M(OH)4]yx + y = 4
Al(OH)3 + OH- [Al(OH)4]Zn(OH)2 + 2OH- [Zn(OH)4]2Pb(OH)2 + 2OH- [Pb(OH)4]2-

Precipitates that dissolve in excess ammonia solution

Precipitates of zinc hydroxide, copper hydroxide, silver oxide** and silver chloride**
Zn2+ + 4NH3 [Zn(NH3)4]2+
Cu

2+

+ 4NH3 [Cu(NH3)4]

2+

Ag + 2NH3 [Ag(NH3)2] (** same equation)

+

Test to confirm Fe3+

Fe3+ + SCN- FeSCN2+

Or write as [FeSCN]2+

Test to identify barium ion / test to identify sulfate ion

Ba2+ + SO42- BaSO4 (yes the same equation!)
Test to identify lead ion
Pb2+ + SO42- PbSO4
Test to identify chloride or iodide ion
Ag+ + Cl- AgCl

Ag+ + I- AgI

HINT BOX
Write the equations for formation of
precipitates backwards
Product
Reactants
Balance it
Eg
Pb(OH)2
Pb2+ + OH- Pb(OH)2
Pb2+ + 2OH- Pb(OH)2
Write the equations for formation of
the complexes backwards
Product
Reactants
Balance it
Eg
[Cu(NH3)4]2+
Cu2+ + NH3 [Cu(NH3)4]2+
Cu2+ + 4NH3 [Cu(NH3)4]2+