A QUALITATIVE ANALYSIS OF CATIONS

Dela Cruz, Mary Lance M.

Department of Chemistry- Physics

Cebu Normal University

1. Introduction
The qualitative analysis is a general name for the methods used in the determination of the
identity rather than the amount of chemical species (quantitative analysis). The qualitative
process of analyzing cations usually utilizes its reaction(s) characteristic and interprets the
obtained results using a deductive thought process.

Ionic compounds are identified using their chemical properties, like solubility with certain
compounds, rather than their physical properties. In the qualitative analysis procedure, the
chemical properties of an unknown substance are determined by systematically reacting the
unknown with a number of different reagents. Before individual components of a mixture of
cations can be successfully identified, they have to be separated from the mixture. The individual
cations, once separated, may need to be identified in the ensuing confirmatory reactions. Using
a flow chart and knowing the actual results of the reactions characteristic for a given cation (or a
group of cations) makes it easier to identify this ion in the unknown sample, when the same
results are obtained in a test. Therefore, it is useful to perform all of the characteristic reactions
first on the mixture of ions whose identity is known, then proceed to the unknown sample to
make a better comparison with the behavior.

The qualitative analysis of ions in a mixture must follow a scheme that can be summarized
as follows: (1) add reagents that exploit the more general properties of ions to separate major
groups of ions; (2) separate major groups into subgroups with reactions that will distinguish less
general properties; and (3) add reagents that will specifically confirm the presence of individual
ions.
Group I (Ag+, Pb2+ and Hg22+) cations produce insoluble chlorides so they can be
precipitated with dilute HCl, while all other cations remain in solution.

Objective
The main objective of the experiment are to learn how to (a) observe and record carefully
the chemical behavior of ions when reacting with different reagents; (b) evaluate critically
experimental observations; and (c) apply fundamental chemical principles to an experimental
situation.
Particularly, Part I of the experiment aims to separate mixture of known cations: Ag+, Pb2+
and Hg22+ into individual ions. Then, Part II aims to use the information gathered in the first part
to separate and identify individual cations in an unknown solution containing a mixture of two or
three cations.

2. Procedure
Materials
a. 6M HCI, 6M NH4OH, 1M KI, 6M CH5COOH,
b. 0.50 M known solutions of AgNOt, Pb(NO3)2, and Hg2(NO3)2
c. Unknown solutions, distilled hot water.
Equipments
centrifuge, test tubes (6 small, 2 medium), test tube rack, stirring rods, beral pipets, hot plate,
small beaker, red litmus paper.

Procedure
 3. Analysis

Iodide,
KI iodide ion Iodide, PbI2

I- PbI2
 4. Conclusion
The unknown sample was tested for the Ag+, Pb2+ and Hg22+ using the procedure discussed
in detail above. The precipitate formed after adding KI on the second supernatant liquid was
white upon first inspection. By putting the sample against a white surface, the sample registered
a faint yellow color which is an indicator of the presence of Pb2+ in small amounts. After adding
the Ammonium hydroxide to the second precipitate, the third precipitate had a black color, an
indicator of the presence of Hg22+. The decanted third supernatant liquid formed a cloudy, white
precipitate after adding Acetic Acid which is an indicator of the presence of Ag+.