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CHEMICAL TESTS FOR IDENTIFYING CATIONS

(positive ions - metal cations, ammonium and hydrogen ion etc.)
Doc Brown's Chemistry  Qualitative Methods of Analysis Revision Notes

CHEMICAL identification TESTS Part 3 Qualitative tests to test for, and identify, cations
(positive ions)

The following tests for the following cations are fully described including explanations,
methods, observations and equations, so described are how to test for positive ions –
mainly metal ions: ammonium ion NH4+, hydrogen ion/oxonium ion/acids H+/H3O+,
lithium ion Li+, sodium ion Na+, potassium ion K+, calcium ion Ca2+, strontium ion Sr2+,
barium ion Ba2+, copper(II) ion Cu2+, aluminium ion Al3+, magnesium ion Mg2+, iron(II)
ion Fe2+, iron(III) ion Fe3+, zinc ion Zn2+, chromium(III) ion Cr3+, manganese(II) ion Mn2+,
lead(II) ion Pb2+, metal carbonates – zinc carbonate ZnCO3 and copper(II) carbonate CuCO3

Chemical Tests Index

 Part 1 Introduction to chemical tests

 Part 2 Qualitative tests to identify organic molecule functional groups of homologous series

Part 3 Metal cations (positive ions), metal carbonates, ammonium ion and hydrogen ions (acids) (this page)

 Part 4 Gases, water and non–metallic elements

 Part 5 Anions (negative ions) including hydroxide (alkalis)

APPENDIX 1. IDENTIFYING ELEMENTS from LINE SPECTRA (non-chemical test method)

some associated revising links

GCSE/IGCSE Revision QUIZ on chemical tests for identifying ions, gases and compounds

A Level Quantitative analysis: acid–base, silver nitrate–chloride, EDTA titrations

A Level Quantitative analysis: Redox titrations

Full list of KEYWORDS for inorganic/organic identification methods in alphabetical order e.g. test/reagent for: * acid ==> H+ * acid/acyl
chloride RCOCl * alcohols – general ROH/prim RCH2OH/sec R2CHOH/tert R3COH) * aldehyde RCHO * prim aliphatic amine R–NH2 *
aliphatic/aromatic carboxylic acids * alkali ==> OH– * alkane/alkene >C=C</alkyne –C C– (saturated versus unsaturated) *
aluminium/aluminum ion Al3+ * amide RCONH2 * prim aliphatic amines R–NH2 * ammonia gas NH3 * ammonium ion NH4+ * prim
 aromatic amine C6H5–NH2 etc. * barium ion Ba2+ * Benedict's solution * Brady's reagent * bromide ion Br– * bromine Br2 * caesium ion
Cs+ * calcium ion Ca2+ by flame or hydroxide ppt. * carbonate CO32–/hydrogencarbonate HCO3– with acid or effect of heating metal
carbonate e.g. MCO3 * carbon dioxide gas CO2 * carboxylic acid RCOOH * carboxylic acid (aliphatic) salts e.g. RCOO–Na+ * chloride ion
Cl– * chlorine gas Cl2 * Chomate(VI) ion CrO42– * copper(II) ion Cu2+ by flame or hydroxide ppt. * 24DNPH (for aldehydes/ketones test) *
esters RCOOR * Fehling's test/solution * flame test for metal ions * fluoride ion F– * haloalkanes/halogenoalkanes R–X * hydrogen gas
H2 * hydrogen sulphide H2S * hydrogen ion, acids H+ * hydrogen bromide gas/hydrobromic acid HBr * hydrogen chloride gas/hydrochloric
acid HCl * hydrogen iodide gas/hydriodic acid HI * hydroxide ion, alkali OH– * hydroxy/alcohol/phenol (organic) * iodide ion I– * iodine I2 *
iodoform test – formation of CHI3 * iron(II) ion Fe2+ * iron(III) ion Fe3+ * ketone R2C=O * lead(II) ion Pb2+ * lithium ion Li+ * lime water
Ca(OH)2(aq) * magnesium ion Mg2+ * metal carbonates–heating e.g. MCO3 * metal ions via hydroxide precipitate * nitrate or nitrate(V)
NO3– * nitrite or nitrate(III) NO2– * nitrogen dioxide or nitrogen(IV) oxide NO2 * oxygen gas O2 * phenols C6H5OH etc. * potassium ion K+ *
rubidium ion Rb+ * reducing sugars * saturated/unsaturated * silver nitrate AgNO3 (see chloride, bromide, iodide tests) * sugars
(reducing) * sodium ion Na+ * strontium Sr+ * 'sulphate/sulfate' or sulphate(VI) SO42– * sulphide S2– * 'sulphite/sulfite' or sulphate(IV)
SO32– * sulphur dioxide gas SO2 * Tollen's Reagent * unsaturated/saturated * water H2O * zinc ion Zn2+ *

Use the alphabetical test list above for identifying anions, cations, gases, molecules etc. to find what you require! for your KS3–KS4
Science–GCSE–IGCSE– Chemistry and GCE–AS–A2–IB–US grades 9–12 K12 advanced subsidiary chemistry course etc. and help you
to identify unknown inorganic and organic compounds–molecules for qualitative analysis.

EMAIL query? comment? test missing? * Gas Preparations *  Hazard warning signs/symbols–examples of labelling

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 3. INORGANIC Qualitative TESTS Cations and Acids

CHEMICAL TEST FOR TEST METHOD OBSERVATIONS TEST CHEMISTRY–comments

Chemical test for the Add COLD sodium
Ammonium ion hydroxide solution to the
suspected ammonium salt
NH4+ and test any gas above the
solution with red litmus.
Smelly ammonia
released! and red
litmus turns blue,
gentle warming helps BUT the
ammonia should be released
at room temperature.
Ammonia gas is evolved because
alkali frees ammonia from its salts.
 NH4+(aq) + OH–(aq) ==>
NH3(g) + H2O(l)

The hydroxide ion removes a proton

from the ammonium ion to release the
ammonia.

Chemical test for
acids i.e. the aqueous
hydrogen ion i.e. H+
+
or H3O ion (note: to
completely identify acids you
need to test for the anion e.g.
chloride for HCl hydrochloric
or sulfate ion if sulfuric acid
etc.)
(i) Litmus or universal
indicator or pH meter.  variety of colours with univ.
(ii) Adding a little sodium
hydrogen carbonate
powder.
(i) Litmus turns red, and, a
ind. strong – red, weak –
yellow /orange, depending on
strength of acid.
(ii) Fizzing with any carbonate
and test the gas to see if it is
carbon dioxide – test for CO2.
(i) A pH meter reading gives a value of
less than 7, the lower the pH number
the stronger the acid, the higher the H+
concentration,
(ii) HCO3–(aq) + H+(aq) ==>
H2O(l) + CO2(g)
However, some salts can give acid or
alkaline solutions but advanced acid–
base theory is needed to explain this.

Chemical tests for A little of the metal salt or
Positive metal cations other compound  is mixed
with a flame test with a few drops of
concentrated hydrochloric
(see also below for acid and a sample of the
NaOH(aq) and NH3(aq) mixture is heated strongly in
tests for metal ion) and a bunsen flame on the end
heating carbonates too. of a cleaned nichrome wire
(or platinum if you can
This test can be done in a afford it!).
more precise and specific
Group 1: lithium Li/Li+
crimson (carmine–red)
Group 1: sodium Na/Na+
golden yellow (can be slightly
orangeish)
Group 1: potassium K/K+
violet–lilac (crimson through
cobalt blue glass)
All colours are due to electronic
excitations to a higher electronic
energy levels. You see the light
emitted as the electrons return to
lower more stable electronic energy
levels. This is the basis of atomic
emission and absorption
spectroscopy. Aluminium, magnesium,
iron and zinc do not produce a useful
identifying flame colours.
manner using an instrument
called a spectroscope and the
technique is called emission
spectroscopy. Specific
emission lines of a
characteristic frequency are
observed – a fingerprint
pattern.
Testing for positive metal
cations via sodium hydroxide
(NaOH) or ammonia (NH3)
solutions.
Some metal ions give
coloured hydroxide
precipitates that can be used
as a simple identification test.
Some metal ions give a white
precipitate and others no
precipitate at all. Adding
excess sodium hydroxide or
ammonia solution can
sometimes give useful extra
observations.
Note:  chemical tests
(1) Both are alkalis, giving
hydroxide ions, OH–, in their
solutions.
(2) Aluminium, magnesium,
iron and zinc do not produce
a useful identifying flame
colour.
(3) A more advanced test to
distinguish iron(II) ions,
Fe2+and iron(III) ions, Fe3+
(i) If potassium
hexacyanoferrate(III) solution
is added to the suspected iron
solution, iron(II) ions give a
deep blue precipitate of
Turnbull's blue.
(ii) If potassium
hexacyanoferrate(II) solution
is added to the suspected iron
solution, iron(III) ions give a
deep blue precipitate of
Prussian blue.
Note that Turnbull's blue is
identical in composition to 
Prussian blue. For more
chemical details see the
transition metals page on
iron.
In this simple flame test,
many metals ions give
characteristic flame colours
and the chloride salts tend
to be the most volatile giving
a stronger colour, hence the
use of conc. HCl(aq).
The nichrome/platinum wire
should be cleaned in conc.
hydrochloric acid and
heated in the hottest part of
the flame to make sure there
is no contaminating flame
colours.
Dilute sodium hydroxide
(NaOH) solution is added to
a solution containing the
suspected ion.
Both the precipitate formed
and the effect of excess
alkali are important
observations.
All precipitates are white,
unless otherwise stated, and
all tend to be gelatinous in
nature.
The test should be repeated
with aqueous ammonia
solution (NH3, 'ammonium
hydroxide').
The observations with
ammonia solution are
usually similar, but not
always, the same and the
differences can be
important clues as to the
identity of the metal ion.
ppt. = precipitate.
More on some of these
hydroxide precipitates on
the 3–d block Transition
Metals Series pages.
Group 2: calcium Ca/Ca2+ Other metal flame colours in Group
brick–red (yellowish red) 1:rubidium – red and caesium/cesium
(light green through cobalt – blue
blue glass)
Group 2: strontium Sr/Sr2+
crimson
Group 2: barium Ba/Ba2+
yellowish–apple green
Transition Metal: copper(II)
Cu/Cu2+ livid blue (flashes of
green too), arsenic (As),
antimony (Sb) and bismuth
(Bi) also give a blue flame
colour
aluminium ion: Al3+(aq) + 3OH–(aq) ==> Al(OH)3(s) gives a white
precipitate
of aluminum hydroxide with both ammonia and sodium hydroxide,
which is not soluble in excess of the weak alkali ammonia, but dissolves
in the stronger base/alkali sodium hydroxide (amphoteric) to give a
clear colourless solution.
Al(OH)3(s) + 3OH–(aq) ==> [Al(OH)6]3–(aq)
or more simply Al(OH)3(s) + OH–(aq) ==> [Al(OH)4]–(aq)
(amphoteric behaviour because it dissolves in acids too)
calcium ion: Ca2+(aq) + 2OH–(aq) ==> Ca(OH)2(s) gives a white
precipitate
of calcium hydroxide with sodium hydroxide IF the concentration of
calcium ion is high. It is not soluble in excess of NaOH. No precipitate is
formed with ammonia solution.
magnesium ion: Mg2+(aq) + 2OH–(aq) ==> Mg(OH)2(s) gives a white
precipitate
of magnesium hydroxide with ammonia or sodium hydroxide, which is
not soluble in excess of either NH3 or NaOH. You could distinguish Mg
from Ca with a flame test or ammonia test above.
copper(II) ion: Cu2+(aq) + 2OH–(aq) ==> Cu(OH)2(s) gives a
blue/turquoise ppt.
of copper(II) hydroxide with ammonia or sodium hydroxide, which
dissolves in excess ammonia to give a deep blue solution of an ammine
complex, but copper(II) hydroxide is NOT soluble in excess NaOH.
Cu(OH)2(s) + 4NH3(aq) ==> [Cu(NH3)4]2+(aq) + 2OH–(aq)
iron(II) ion: Fe2+(aq) + 2OH–(aq) ==> Fe(OH)2(s) gives a dark green
precipitate
of iron(II) hydroxide with ammonia or sodium hydroxide, which is not
soluble in excess of NH3 or NaOH. Darkens in air due to oxidation to
Fe(OH)3.
iron(III) ion: Fe3+(aq) + 3OH–(aq) ==> Fe(OH)3(s) forms a brown
precipitate

MISCELLANEOUS CATION
TESTS:
(i) Lead(II) ion chemical test
(ii) –
Metal Carbonates chemical
tests
 
See also carbonates and
hydrogencarbonates.
(i) add potassium iodide
solution ==> yellow
precipitate
Sometimes heating a metal
carbonate strongly to
decompose it provides
some clues to its identity.
Adding acid to a carbonate
==> CO2 and the colour of
the resulting solution e.g.
of iron(III) hydroxide with ammonia or sodium hydroxide, which is not
soluble in excess of NH3 or NaOH.
Another test for iron(III) ions is to add a few drops of
potassium/ammonium thiocyanate solution and a blood–red coloured
compound is formed.
zinc ion: Zn2+(aq) + 2OH–(aq) ==> Zn(OH)2(s) a white precipitate formed
of zinc hydroxide with ammonia or sodium hydroxide, which dissolves in
both excess (i) sodium hydroxide or (ii) ammonia to give a clear
colourless solution:
(i) Zn(OH)2(s) + 2OH–(aq) ==> [Zn(OH)4]2–(aq)  (amphoteric behaviour
because zinc hydroxide dissolves in acids too).
(ii) Zn(OH)2(s) + 4NH3(aq) ==> [Zn(NH3)4]2+(aq)  + 2OH–(aq) (soluble
complex ion formation)
chromium (III) ion: Cr3+(aq) + 3OH–(aq) ==> Cr(OH)3(s) a grey–green
precipitate forms
of chromium(III) hydroxide with ammonia or sodium hydroxide, which is
soluble in excess of NaOH (amphoteric, dissolves in acids too) but not
soluble in excess ammonia NH3. With sodium hydroxide a dark green
soluble hexahydroxo–complex ion is formed.
Cr(OH)3(s) + 3NaOH(aq) ==> [Cr(OH)6]3–(aq)
manganese(II) ion: Mn2+(aq) + 2OH–(aq) ==> Mn(OH)2(s) produces an
off–white precipitate
of manganese(II) hydroxide with ammonia or sodium hydroxide, which
is NOT soluble in excess of NH3 or NaOH and rapidly turns brown ==>
black in air due to oxidation to manganese(III) oxide Mn2O3 and then
manganese(IV) oxide, MnO2.
lead(II) ion: Pb2+(aq) + 2OH–(aq) ==> Pb(OH)2(s) a white precipitate
forms
of lead(II) hydroxide, which dissolves in excess sodium hydroxide
(amphoteric) to give a clear colourless solution but does not dissolve in
excess ammonia solution.
Pb(OH)2(s) + 2OH–(aq) ==> [Pb(OH)4]2–(aq)  (amphoteric behaviour with
NaOH as with zinc hydroxide which also dissolves in acids too)
The barium ion, Ba2+(aq) does not give a hydroxide precipitate because
barium hydroxide, Ba(OH)2, is too soluble.
(i) Pb2+(aq) +2I–(aq) ==>PbI2(s) a yellow precipitate of lead(II) iodide is
formed
(i) copper(II) carbonate==> copper(II) oxide + carbon dioxide
CuCO3(s) ==> CuO(s) + CO2(g)
observations [green solid] ==> [black solid residue] + [colourless gas,
test with limewater, white precipitate]
(ii) zinc carbonate==> zinc oxide + carbon dioxide
 blue copper(II) ion Cu2+(aq), ZnCO3(s) ==> ZnO(s) + CO2(g)
may also provide clues, but
no good in most cases observations [white] ==> [solid residue, pale yellow hot, white cold] +
because most carbonates [colourless gas, test with limewater ==> white precipitate]
you come across are white
 
giving colourless solutions
except for some transition  
metals like copper, nickel
and cobalt.  
The metal ion solution might TOP OF PAGE
also give a flame colour or a
hydroxide precipitate with
sodium hydroxide e.g.
copper.

Tests for NH4+, H+/H3O+, Li+, Na+, K+, Ca2+, Sr2+, Ba2+, Cu2+, Al3+, Mg2+, Fe2+, Fe3+, Zn2+, Cr3+, Mn2+, Pb2+, CuCO3, ZnCO3 What is the test for the ammonium ion? How do you test for the ammonium ion? What is
the test for the hydrogen ion? How do you test for the hydrogen ion? What is the test for a lithium ion? How do you test for lithium ion? What is the test for a sodium ion? How do you test for sodium ion? What is the test
for the calcium ion? How do you test for calcium ion? What is the test for strontium ions? How do you test for strontium ion? What is the test for barium ions? How do you test for barium ion? What is the test for copper(II)
ions? How do you test for copper ion? What is the test for the aluminium ion? (aluminum) How do you test for aluminium ions? What is the test for magnesium ions? How do you test for magnesium ion? What is the test
for iron(II) ions? (ferrous ion) How do you test for the iron(II) ion?  What is the test for iron(III) ions? (ferric ion) How do you test for the iron(III) ion? What is the test for zinc ions? How do you test for zinc ions? What is the
test for chromium(III) ions? How do you test for the chromium(III) ion? What is the test for the zinc ion? How do you test for zinc ions? What is the test for lead(II) ions? How do you test for the lead(II) ion? What are the
tests for copper(II) carbonate? How do you test for copper carbonate? What are the tests for zinc carbonate? How do you test for zinc carbonate? Revision notes on tests for cations identifying positive ions KS4 Science
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