Lab # 9
Date:
Title: Water Pollution
Aim: To identify the ions present in a sample of waste water.
Apparatus:
Materials:
Method
1. A small amount of waste water
was added to a test tube and NaOH
solution added dropwise and the
until in excess
2. A small amount of water was
added to a test tube and then
aqueous ammonia was added
dropwise and then until in excess
3. In the third sample of waste
water, a few drops of aqueous
potassium iodide was added
Observations
● White precipitate formed
● Dissolved in excess to form
a colourless solution
● White precipitate formed
● Does not dissolve in excess
● (Bright) yellow precipitate
formed
Inferences
This method is used to test for metal
ions. Sodium hydroxide solution
reacts with the metal sulphates
forming metal hydroxides which
appear as precipitates. Here, it is
observed that when sodium
hydroxide is added, a white
precipitate forms and excess sodium
hydroxide solution dissolves to form
a colourless solution. This is a
positive test for either Al+ or Zn+
ions.
This method is also used to test for
metal ions by the precipitation
formed. Here, it is observed that
when aqueous ammonia is added, a
white precipitate forms and excess
aqueous ammonia does not dissolve.
This observation indicates that Al+
or Pb+ ions present.
Based on these observations, this
indicates that lead nitrate was
present. This is so because when
potassium iodide reacts with lead
nitrate, they produce potassium
nitrate (water soluble) and lead
iodide. And it is the lead ions and
iodide ions ,from the lead
iodide, that meet to form the
yellow precipitate. `
Equation: KI(s) + Pb(NO3)2(s)

4. In the third sample of waste
water, a small amount of silver
nitrate solution was added, followed
by aqueous ammonia
5. In the fourth sample of waste
water, about 1 mL of aqueous
barium chloride was added followed
by about 1 ml of dilute HCl
6. In the fifth sample of waste water,
few pieces of copper turnings were
added, followed by about 2 cm3
conc. sulphuric acid, then it was
heated in a water bath
Conclusion:
→ 2KNO3(aq) + PbI2(s)
● No visible change This method is used to test for
halide ions using silver nitrate and
aqueous ammonia. When silver
nitrate is added to a halide ion
solution, the silver ions and halide
ions combine to form insoluble
silver halides which appear as
precipitates. The silver ions form
precipitates with the halogens
chlorine, bromine and iodine, except
fluorine because silver fluoride is
soluble so therefore no precipitate
will form. Then the aqueous
ammonia is added in order to further
confirm the silver halide identity
and each silver halides will react
differently except silver fluoride.
Here, it is observed that there was
no visible change. This is so
because the halide ions present are
fluoride ions.
● No visible change This method is used to test for
sulfate ions SO42- using aqueous
barium chloride and dilute HCl.
Here, it is observed that there was
no visible change. This is so
because there are no sulfate ions
present in this sample.
● White Precipitate
● Yellow/ brownish ring
formed