Name: Rivera, Ma. Angelica Instructor/Professor: Mrs.

Ma Theresa Receli
Course/Year/Sec: BSFT-1B Date Submitted: January 10, 2023

EXPERIMENT 6: TEST FOR THE PRESENCE OF CATIONS EXPERIMENT

Cations are ions that are positively charged. Ions are charged atoms or molecules. If a balanced atom
loses one or more electrons, it will become a positively charged cation.

Testing for cations is a test used in chemistry to identify metal or metal ions (cations) found in
compounds. There are two types of tests used in chemistry to test for cations. First, the Flame test
involves exposing the compound to a flame and identifying the compound by the flame color produced.
Second, is the Sodium Hydroxide test that uses sodium hydroxide or aqueous ammonia to test and
identify metal ions by the precipitation formed.

OBJECTIVES:

At the end of this experiment, the students are expected to:

1. Determine how to Test for the presence of cations.
2. Identify the precipitate reactions using sodium hydroxide and aqueous ammonia.

PROCEDURE:
A. Sodium Hydroxide Test for Cations
1. There are a total of 9 types of cations in this test (Al3+, Ca2+, Zn2+, Pb2+, Na+, Cu2+, Fe2+, Fe3+) and 2
reagents (NaOH, NH3).

2. Add approximately 5 cm3 of solution that contains cations to be tested to a test-tube.

3. To a solution add aqueous sodium hydroxide slowly drop wise.

4. Note your observations.

5. For further testing, add the excess amount of aqueous sodium hydroxide
6. Observe if there any changes.
7. Repeat the tests above using aqueous ammonia in place of aqueous sodium hydroxide.
B. Test for Ammonium ions
1. Pour 2 cm3 ammonium solution to a test tube.

2. Add dilute sodium hydroxide solution and shake the mixture.

3. Gently warm the test tube

4. Hold the litmus paper in the mouth of the test tube and test the gas that comes off.

5. Observe the litmus paper.

EQUIPMENT AND MATERIALS

1. Test Tube
2. Tube Rack
3. Stirring Rod
4. Reagent Bottle
5. Dropper
6. Bunsen Burner
7. Wooden Test Tube
8. Red Litmus Paper
9. Ammonia Solution
10.Sodium Hydroxide Solution

SET-UP

A. EXPERIMENT #.1 Sodium Hydroxide Test for Cations

 B. EXPERIMENT #.2 Test for Ammonium ions

DATA AND OBSERVATION

Precipitation Further results Precipitation Further

Cations (Few drops of (Excess NaOH) (Few drops of results (Excess
NaOH) ammonia) ammonia)

Aluminum White White precipitate White White precipitate

dissolves, turning the Doesn’t dissolve
(Al3+) Precipitate solution colorless.
Precipitate
Calcium White White precipitate No Precipitate No precipitate/No
Doesn’t dissolve changes in
(Ca2+) Precipitate appearance
Zinc White White precipitate White White precipitate
dissolves, turning the dissolves, turning the
(Zn2+) Precipitate solution colorless.
Precipitate solution colorless.
 Lead White White precipitate White White precipitate
Doesn’t dissolve Doesn’t dissolve
(Pb2+) Precipitate Precipitate
Sodium No precipitate No precipitate/No No Precipitate No precipitate/No
changes in changes in
(Na+) appearance appearance
Copper Blue Blue Precipitate Blue Blue precipitate
Doesn’t dissolve dissolves, turning the
(Cu2+) Precipitate Precipitate solution dark blue

Iron II Green Green Precipitate Green Green Precipitate

Doesn’t dissolve Doesn’t dissolve
(Fe2+) Precipitate Precipitate

Iron III Reddish Reddish Brown Reddish Reddish Brown

Precipitate Precipitate
(Fe3+) Brown Doesn’t dissolve
Brown Doesn’t dissolve
Precipitate Precipitate
Chromium Green Green Precipitate Green Green Precipitate
dissolved. Doesn’t dissolve
(Cr3+) Precipitate Precipitate

QUESTIONS:

1. What happened when sodium hydroxide ((NaOH) warmed with ammonium

(NH4+)? The result is no visible reaction
2. Which gas evolved when sodium hydroxide (NaOH) warmed with ammonium (NH4+)?
Ammonia Gas
3. what happened to the red litmus paper after it was place above the warmed ammonium
solution with sodium hydroxide? Red litmus paper turned blue

CONCLUSION:

In conclusion, in the experiment to test the presence of the cations, the sodium hydroxide method was
used. In this method, sodium hydroxide or aqueous ammonia are used to test and identify metal ions
through precipitation. The solution being tested is treated with sodium hydroxide or aqueous ammonia,
and the color of the precipitation that forms allow the compound to be identified. In the video, to test
the presence of the cations, a few drops of sodium hydroxide were added to the cations, namely
aluminum, calcium, zinc, lead, Sodium, Copper, Iron (II), Iron (III), and Chromium. The aluminum formed
a white precipitate; the calcium also formed a white precipitate, same as the zinc and lead. While the
sodium has no chemical reaction when a few drops of sodium hydroxide are added, following that are
copper, iron (II), iron (III), and chromium. When a few drops of sodium hydroxide were added to the
copper, it formed blue precipitate, green precipitate in iron (II), reddish brown precipitate in iron (III),
and green precipitate in chromium. After the few drops of Sodium Hydroxide were added next, they
added the excess amount of Sodium Hydroxide into the solutions, and the results were that the
The white precipitate in aluminum ions was dissolved, the white precipitate in calcium did not dissolve,
and the white precipitate in zinc also dissolved, turning the solution.
The white precipitate in Lead does not dissolve either; there are no changes in appearance because
there is no precipitate in Sodium; the precipitate does not dissolve in copper as it does in iron (II) and
iron (III); and the precipitate dissolves in chromium, turning the solution green.

The next test that they do is add ammonia to the solution to test for the presence of the cations. They
started with a few drops and saw white precipitate form in the aluminum, zinc, and lead. While there is
no precipitate formed in calcium or sodium, when a few drops of ammonia are added to copper, blue
precipitate forms, green precipitate forms in iron (II), red brown precipitate forms in iron (III), and gray
green precipitate forms in chromium. Subsequently, an excess amount of ammonia was added to the
solution, and the results showed that the precipitate in copper dissolves while the precipitate in iron (II),
iron (III), and chromium does not dissolve. Thus, through this experiment, many cations reacted with a
base or ligand such as sodium hydroxide and ammonia to form salt and water-like precipitates, which
help to identify the compounds.