Qualitative analysis

W. Williams
What is Qualitative Analysis?
Technique(s) used to determine the identify any
unknown substances.
Water or dilute acid is usually added initially to the
solid but why?
To separate the ions into solution
CATIONS
TEST FOR CATIONS
Add NaOH first dropwise to form a precipitate (ppt)then add
until in excess after but why?

All hydroxides are INSOLUBLE (will form an insoluble

precipitate) EXCEPT (Na+, K+ and NH4+) and these
precipitates have UNIQUE colour.

Essentially if we get a coloured ppt, we can predict which

cations possibly present, if we don’t we also can figure out
which is there (Na+, K+ and NH4+) etc. (Solubility of
Salts/Hydroxides)
Reactions of CATIONS with NAOH
Mn+ (aq) + nOH-(aq)  M(OH)n (aq) or (s)

Al3+ (aq) + 3OH-(aq)  Al(OH)3(s) WHITE

Cu2+ (aq) + 2OH-(aq)  Cu(OH)2 (s) BLUE
Na+ (aq) + OH-(aq)  Na(OH) (aq)
Fe2+ (aq) + 2OH-(aq)  Fe(OH)2(s) Dirty-Green
Fe3+ (aq) + 3OH-(aq)  Fe(OH)3(s) Red-brown
Pb2+ (aq) + 2OH-(aq)  Pb(OH)2(s) White
Example of Precipitation Reactions
Effects of Excess
Effect with NaOH dropwise until in excess
How Do we figure out the Soluble ones?
Flame Spectrometry Test (CAPE)
Na+ - orange flame
How Do we figure out the Soluble ones?
K+ - Lilac flame
How Do we figure out the Soluble ones?
NH4+ - Heat and test for gas evolved (CSEC)

Recall: NH4+ (aq) + OH-(aq)  NH4OH (aq)

When heated it release Ammonia Gas NH3

NH4OH (aq)  NH3 + H2O (l)

Test For Ammonia Gas
Use Litmus Paper (pungent smell)
Test For Ammonia Gas
Using rod dipped in conc HCl
How Do we differentiate between Al3+ , Pb2+ and
Zn2+? Use Ammonia
Effect with NH3 dropwise until in excess
Distinguishing Between Al and Pb ions
Pb2+ (aq) + 2I-(aq)  PbI2(s) Bright Yellow

Al3+ would be unaffected

ANIONS
HALIDES (Cl-, Br- and I-)
Solubility in Aqueous Ammonia
Carbonate, Sulphites and Sulphate Ions
Add Ba2+ or Pb2+ ions to form insoluble white
Precipitate followed by ACID to release and test gas.
Test For Carbon Dioxide with Lime Water

Remember Acid and Carbonate reaction

2H+ (aq) + CO2-3 (aq)  CO2 (g) + H2O (l)

Test for Carbon Dioxide

Co2 (g) + Ca(OH)2 (aq)  CaCO3 (s) + H2O (l)

Limewater Test
Test For Sulphur Dioxide with Potassium
Permanganate
Testing for gas sulphur dioxide gas - YouTube
Nitrate
4NO-3 (aq or s)  4O- (s) + 4NO2(g) +
O2 (g)

Nitrogen Dioxide Brown Acidic Gas

Oxygen Colourless relight a glowing splint

nitrogen dioxide test - YouTube