Chapter 27 Analysis

Test for Gases:

Method:

• Collect gas into a boiling tube

• Put lit splint inside

Result:

• Burns with a ‘Squeaky Pop’ if hydrogen is present

Equation:

2H2 (g) + O2 (g) → 2H2O (l)

Method:

• Collect gas into a boiling tube

• Insert glowing splint

Result:

• Splint relights if oxygen is present

Method:

• Bubble gas through limewater

• Observe colour change

Result:

• Limewater turns milky and cloudy if carbon dioxide is

present

Equation:

Ca(OH)2 (aq) + CO2 (g) → CaCO3 (s) + H2O (l)

*The white solid, CaCO3, turns the limewater milky

Method:

• Lower damp red litmus paper or damp universal indicator

(pH) paper into test solution

Result:

• Damp red litmus paper turns blue if Ammonia is present

• Damp universal indicator (pH) paper turns purple if Ammonia
is present

Equation

NH3 (g) + H2O (l) → NH4+ (aq) + OH– (aq)

*The Hydroxide Ions, OH–, turns the Litmus Blue

Method:

• Lower damp litmus paper or moist starch-iodide paper into

test solution

Result:

• Damp litmus paper is bleached white if chlorine is present

• Moist starch-iodide paper turns blue if chlorine is present

Equation for moist starch-iodide Paper:

Cl2 (g) + 2l– (aq) → 2Cl– (aq) + I2 (aq)

*The iodine formed turns the starch blue

Method:

• Clean platinum or nichrome wire by dipping it into

hydrochloric acid then placing it in the roaring flame (this is
repeated until the wire no longer produces a colour in the
flame).
• The end of the wire is dipped into fresh hydrochloric acid and
then into the solid sample under test.
• The end of the wire should then be placed into a non-roaring,
non-luminous Bunsen flame.
• Colour of flame is observed and recorded.
Test For Cations:

Method:

• Add aqueous sodium hydroxide to the solid or solution and

heat
• Lower damp red litmus paper into gas produced

Result:

• If ammonium ions are present then a pungent-smelling gas is

produced
• The gas produced turns damp red litmus paper blue
• The gas in ammonia evolved from ammonium ions reacting
with hydroxide ions from the sodium hydroxide (see below).

Equation:

NH4+ (aq) + OH- → NH3 + H2O

Method:

• Add aqueous sodium hydroxide

• Colour of precipitate is observed and recorded
Test For Anions:

Method:

• Add some dilute Nitric Acid to react and remove carbonate

ions
• Add a few drops of Silver Nitrate solution
• Colour of precipitate is observed and recorded
• Precipitate is silver halide compound.
Method:

• Add some dilute Hydrochloric Acid to react and remove

carbonate ions
• Add a few drops of Barium Chloride solution
• Colour of precipitate is observed and recorded

Result:

• If sulfate ions are present, a white precipitate will form

(Barium Sulfate)

Equation:

Ba2+ (aq) + SO42- (aq) → BaSO4 (s)

Method:

• Add dilute Hydrochloric Acid

• Bubble the gas produced into limewater
• Colour of precipitate is observed and recorded

Result:

• If carbonate ions are present, carbon dioxide is produced

when reacted with hydrochloric acid.
• Carbon dioxide reacts with limewater to turn milky.

Equation:

CO32- (aq) + 2H+ (aq) → CO2 (g) + H2O (l)

Chemical Test For Water:

Method:

• Add liquid to anhydrous copper (II) sulfate

• Colour change is observed and recorded

Result:

• If liquid is water, the white powder will turn blue

• This is because hydrated copper (II) sulfate is formed and is
a blue crystal
• Does not indicate whether water is pure

Equation:

CuSO4 (s) + 5H2O (l) → CuSO4.5H2O (s)

White Blue
Physical Test For Water:

Method:

• Boil the liquid and measure temperature as liquid starts to

boil – its boiling point
• Freeze the liquid to measure its freezing point (same as
melting point)

Result:

• Boiling point of pure water is 100°C

• Freezing point (melting point) of water is 0°C
• If either are increased or decreased water sample contains
impurities