General Chemistry Lab. ……………………………………(L2 & L3)………………………………………………… Islamic U.

College

‫ قسن تقنياث التحليالث الورضيت‬/ ‫الجاهعت االسالهيت‬

‫الورحلت االولى‬

‫ الكشف عن االيوناث الووجبت‬/ )3/2( ‫هحاضرة‬

‫الكشف عن االيوناث السالبت‬

‫ هاشن هشتاق شير علي‬.‫م‬.‫التدريسي م‬

‫ الكيوياء العاهت‬/ ‫الوادة‬

Identification of cations & anions

Cations and anions are both ions, but the difference between a cation and an anion
is the net electrical charge of the ion.

Ions are atoms or molecules which have gained or lost one or more valence
electrons giving the ion a net positive or negative charge. If the chemical species has
more protons than electrons, it carries a net positive charge. If there are more
electrons than protons, the species has a negative charge.

Anions : are ions with a net negative charge.

Example: CO32− * HCO3− * CH3COO−, * S2−, * SO32− * S2O32− *
NO2−
Cl− , Br−, I−, NO3− , C2O42− , SO2− 4 , PO43− , BO33−.
General Chemistry Lab. ……………………………………(L2 & L3)………………………………………………… Islamic U. College

Cations : are ions with a net positive charge.

Example: Fe2+, Fe3+, Al3+, Cr3+ ,Cu2+ , Zn2+, Ni2+, Co2+, Mn2+ ,
Ba2+, Ca2+, Sr2+ Mg2+, Li+, Na+ , K+.

In chemistry, precipitate (ppt) is form an insoluble compound either by

reacting two salts or by changing the temperature to affect the solubility of the
compound, also the name given to the solid that is formed as a result of a
precipitation reaction.

Uses of Precipitate: Precipitate may be used to identify the cation or anion in a salt
as part of qualitative analysis.

Precipitation: is the creation of a solid from a solution. When the reaction occurs in
a liquid solutions,

precipitate: is a solid material result from the reaction between liquid solutions.

Supernate: is the precipitate (free liquid) remaining above the solid.

Suspension: is a heterogeneous mixture containing solid particles that are

sufficiently large for sedimentation
 General Chemistry Lab. ……………………………………(L2 & L3)………………………………………………… Islamic U. College

Sometimes the formation of a precipitate indicates the occurrence of a chemical

reaction. If silver nitrate solution is poured into a solution of sodium chloride, a
chemical reaction occurs forming a white precipitate of silver chloride. When
potassium iodide solution reacts with lead(II) nitrate solution, a yellow precipitate of
lead(II) iodide is formed.

Q/ What are the signs of a chemical reactions ?

1- ?
2- ?
3- ?
4- ?

Some Chemical Reactions to identify cations & anions.

1- Cations

2- Anions

BaCl2(aq) + K2Cr2O4(aq) Ba Cr2O4(s) + KCl

BaCl2(aq) + H2SO4(aq) BaSO4 (s) + HCl

 General Chemistry Lab. ……………………………………(L2 & L3)………………………………………………… Islamic U. College

BaCl2(aq) + KI(aq) BaI2 (s) + KCl

BaCl2(aq) + Cu(CH3COO)2(aq) Ba(CH3COO)2(s) + CuCl2

Q/ Distinguish between HCO3-1 & CO3-2 by equations.