AQA A Level Chemistry - ALL Test-tube reactions (Inorganic and Organic)

Species: ion/
Test Positive Result
Functional Group
1. Acidify with dilute HCl
SO42- White precipitate of BaSO4
2. Add BaCl

Effervescence
CO32- Add dilute HCl
Gas produced turns limewater cloudy

OH- Damp red litmus paper Turns from red to blue

White precipitate
Cl-
dissolves in dilute NH3
1. Acidify with dilute HNO3
2. Add AgNO3 Cream precipitate
Halide ion Br-
3. (Add dilute NH3 followed dissolves in conc. NH3 (NOT with dilute)
by conc. NH3)
Yellow precipitate
I-
Insoluble in conc. NH3

In separate test-tubes:
2+ With OH-: white precipitate
Mg • Add dilute NaOH
With SO42-: nvc
• Add dilute H2SO4

Flame test Brick-red

Ca2+ In separate test-tubes: With OH-: white precipitate/

• Add dilute NaOH suspension
• Add dilute H2SO4 With SO42-: slight white precipitate

Flame Test red

Sr2+ In separate test-tubes:

With OH-: nvc
• Add dilute NaOH
With SO42-: white precipitate
• Add dilute H2SO4
Flame Test green

Ba2+ In separate test-tubes:

With OH-: nvc
• Add dilute NaOH
With SO42-: white precipitate
• Add dilute H2SO4

1. Add NaOH
2. Heat sample
NH4+ litmus paper will turn from red to blue.
3. Hold damp red litmus
paper at test tube mouth
 Pink solution → blue-green precipitate
Add NH3 dropwise to excess
Co2+ → straw-yellow solution
aqua ion [Co(H2O)6]2+ (OR add Cl- ions)
(pink → blue solution)

Add dilute NaOH Pale blue precipitate

Add excess NaOH nvc
Cu2+ Add dilute NH3 Pale blue precipitate
Aqua ion [Cu(H2O)6]2+
(pale blue solution) Add conc. NH3 Dark blue solution
Add Na2CO3 Green-blue precipitate
Add NaCl Yellow solution
Add dilute NaOH Green precipitate
Add excess NaOH nvc
Fe2+
Aqua ion [Fe(H2O)6]2+ Add dilute NH3 Green precipitate
(green solution)
Add conc. NH3 nvc
Add Na2CO3 Green precipitate
Add dilute NaOH Orange-brown precipitate
Add excess NaOH nvc

Fe3+ Add dilute NH3 Orange-brown precipitate

Aqua ion [Fe(H2O)6]3+
(violet/brown/yellow sol.)
Add conc. NH3 nvc
Orange-brown precipitate and
Add Na2CO3
effervescence
Add NaCl Yellow solution
Add dilute NaOH White precipitate
Add excess NaOH Precipitate dissolves → colourless sol.
Al3+
Aqua ion [Al(H2O)6]3+ Add dilute NH3 White precipitate
(colourless sol.)
Add conc. NH3 nvc
Add Na2CO3 White precipitate and effervescence

Alkene Solution changes colour from orange to

Shake with bromine water
-C=C- colourless

1. Add NaOH(aq) Precipitate of AgX:

Halogenoalkane and warm • AgCl = white
R-X 2. Acidify with HNO3 • AgBr = Cream
3. Add AgNO3 (aq) • AgI = yellow
 1o and 2o Add acidified potassium Solution turns from orange to green
Alcohol dichromate (VI)
R-OH 3o K2Cr2O7 Solution remains orange
All Add metallic Na Effervescence (H2)

Warm with Fehling’s solution Orange-red precipitate forms, so

2+
(contains Cu ions) solution turns from blue → red
Aldehyde
R-CHO
Warm with Tollens’ reagent
Silver precipitate (mirror) forms
(AgNO3 + NaOH + dilute NH3)

Carboxylic Acid Add a carbonate CO2 released - will turn limewater

R-COOH (e.g. Na2CO3 (s) or NaHCO3(aq)) cloudy