Changkat Changi Secondary School

Secondary 3E/5NA Science (Chemistry )

CHAPTER 11
Qualitative Analysis

Name : ________________________
Class : __________
Date : __________

1
 NOTES 11.1

LESSON OBJECTIVES
At the end of the lesson, you will be able to
o define salt.
o determine the solubility of salts in water.

Recall: Definition of salt

o A salt is an ionic compound that is formed from the replacement of one or more hydrogen ions
of an acid by a metal ion or an ammonium ion.

Formation of salts
Example 1: Acid + Reactive metal → Salt + Hydrogen gas

o Word equation:
hydrochloric acid + magnesium → magnesium chloride + hydrogen gas

o Chemical equation:
2 HCl + Mg → MgCl2 + H2

Note: hydrogen ion of hydrochloric acid is replaced by magnesium ion.

Example 2: *Acid + Base (Metal oxide/ Metal hydroxide/ Ammonium hydroxide) → Salt + Water
*Neutralisation reaction

o Word equation:
sulfuric acid + ammonium hydroxide → ammonium sulfate + water

o Chemical equation:
H2SO4 + 2 NH4OH → (NH4)2SO4 + 2 H 2O

Note: hydrogen ion of sulfuric acid is replaced by ammonium ion.

Acid reacted Formed salt name ending with

Hydrochloric acid HCl … chloride
Sulfuric acid H2SO4 … sulfate
Nitric acid HNO3 … nitrate
Carbonic acid H2CO3 … carbonate

Chapter 11: Qualitative Analysis 1|Page Sec 3E/5NA Science (Chemistry)

 Try this!

Which of the following substances is not a salt?

A Calcium chloride C Magnesium hydroxide

B Copper (II) sulfate D Silver chloride

( )

Water of crystallisation
Hydrated salts Anhydrous salts
o Many salts combine with water molecules (these o Anhydrous salts do not contain water
water molecules are known as water of of crystallisation.
crystallisation) to form hydrated salts.
o Hydrated salts contain water of crystallisation.
o Appearance: crystals o Appearance: powders
o Examples: o Examples:
hydrated copper (II) sulfate: CuSO4.5H2O copper (II) sulfate: CuSO4
hydrated sodium carbonate: Na2CO3.10H2O sodium carbonate: Na2CO3

o When a hydrated salt is heated, water of crystallisation is given off.

o Observation: colourless and odourless gas condenses to form colourless liquid.
CuSO4.5H2O CuSO4 + 5 H 2O
hydrated anhydrous
blue crystals white powder

Note:
White anhydrous CuSO4 can be used to test for the presence of water. White anhydrous CuSO4
turns blue when water is added to it.

Chapter 11: Qualitative Analysis 2|Page Sec 3E/5NA Science (Chemistry)

 Recall: General rules for solubility of the common salts at room temperature.

Soluble Mnemonics Insoluble

All Group I salts are soluble in water.
o sodium salts
o potassium salts All SPAN salts are -
All ammonium salts are soluble in soluble in water
water.
All nitrates are soluble in water.

All chlorides are soluble in water, except Student Leader o silver chloride
Committee o lead(II) chloride
are insoluble in water.

All sulfates are soluble in water, except CLB Student o calcium sulfate
o lead(II) sulfate
o barium sulfate
are insoluble in water.

Only Only SPA carbonates are All carbonates are insoluble in

o sodium carbonate soluble water (except SPA).
o potassium carbonate
o ammonium carbonate
are soluble in water.

o General rules for solubility of the common substances at room temperature.

Soluble Insoluble Remarks

o All acids are soluble. - o Acids are not salts!

Soluble bases o All metal hydroxides are o Soluble bases are also
o Only Group I oxides insoluble (except Group I and known as alkalis! They
o Only SPA hydroxides some Group II). are also not salts!
(alkalis) o All metal oxides are insoluble
o Calcium hydroxide (alkali) (except Group I)
(sparingly soluble)

Chapter 11: Qualitative Analysis 3|Page Sec 3E/5NA Science (Chemistry)

 NOTES 11.2

LESSON OBJECTIVES
At the end of the lesson, you will be able to
o describe the procedures and state the reagents used to identify cations and anions in
salts during Qualitative Analysis.
o state, with reasoning, the results of the tests used identify cations and anions in salts.
o describe tests to identify the following gases:
 ammonia [using moist red litmus paper]
 chlorine [using moist litmus paper]
 carbon dioxide [using limewater]
 sulfur dioxide [using acidified potassium manganate (VII)]
 hydrogen [using a lighted splint]
 Oxygen [using a glowing splint]

Qualitative Analysis
o Qualitative analysis is a process used by a chemist to identify the cations and anions in an
unknown solution.
o All salts are composed of cations (positive ions) and anions (negative ions). For example,
iron(II) sulfate consists of iron (II) ions (Fe2+ ions) and sulfate ions (SO42– ions).
Tip: In order to identify an unknown salt, it must be dissolved in water.

How to test for cations?

1. Add dropwise (a few drops ~ 3 to 5 drops) of an alkali (either sodium hydroxide or
ammonium hydroxide/aqueous ammonia) to the unknown salt solution.
Why do we add aqueous ammonia or sodium hydroxide when testing for cations?
o Most cations (from the salts) react with the alkalis to form precipitates (solids), except
Na+, K+ and NH4+. These cations do not form precipitates with the alkalis.
o From the colour and the solubility of the precipitates, we can identify the cations in the
unknown salts!

2. Continue to add an excess of the alkali. (~ 1/3 of test tube)

Chapter 11: Qualitative Analysis 4|Page Sec 3E/5NA Science (Chemistry)

 3. A cation can be identified by based on:
a) the colour of the precipitate produced (upon adding a few drops of sodium
hydroxide/aqueous ammonia)
b) whether the precipitate is soluble or insoluble in excess sodium hydroxide/aqueous
ammonia
What is the precipitate formed?

It is the hydroxide of the metal ion (cation).

Example: A solution containing Cu2+ forms copper(II) hydroxide which is a light blue
precipitate.

o Ionic equation: Cu2+(aq) + 2OH−(aq) → Cu(OH)2(s)

from unknown from NaOH light blue precipitate
salt solution or NH3 (aq)

c) whether ammonia gas is given off on addition of sodium hydroxide.

Test for aqueous cations

cation effect of aqueous Name/ Formula effect of aqueous 1.Sodium

sodium hydroxide of precipitate ammonia hydroxide reacts
1 ammonium ammonia produced No precipitate - with ammonium
(NH4+) on warming salt to produce a
salt, water and
2 calcium white ppt., insoluble calcium no ppt.
ammonia gas
(Ca2+) in excess hydroxide upon warming!
Ca(OH)2
3 copper (II) light blue ppt., copper(II) light blue ppt., soluble
(Cu2+) insoluble in excess hydroxide in excess, giving a
Cu(OH)2 dark blue solution
4. Iron (II) ions
4 iron(II) green ppt., insoluble iron(II) hydroxide green ppt., insoluble in will be oxidised to
iron (III) ions in
(Fe2+) in excess Fe(OH)2 excess
the presence of
5 iron(III) red-brown ppt., red-brown ppt., oxygen or
iron(III)
oxidising agent
(Fe3+) insoluble in excess hydroxide insoluble in excess
Fe(OH)3
6 lead(II) white ppt., soluble in lead (II) white ppt., insoluble in Scan me for
(Pb2+) excess, giving a hydroxide excess the coloured
colourless solution. chart! 
Pb(OH)2
7 zinc (Zn2+) white ppt., soluble in zinc hydroxide white ppt., soluble in
excess, Zn(OH)2 excess,
giving a colourless giving a colourless
solution solution
Chapter 11: Qualitative Analysis 5|Page Sec 3E/5NA Science (Chemistry)
 Note:
o We can distinguish calcium, lead (II), zinc ions from one another simply by adding sodium
hydroxide or ammonium hydroxide/aqueous ammonia in excess.
o We can distinguish lead (II) and zinc ions from one another simply by adding ammonium
hydroxide/aqueous ammonia in excess.
o Sodium ion, potassium ion and ammonium ion do not form precipitates with alkalis
(Recall: SPA salts are soluble!).
o Zinc ion forms white precipitate that is soluble in excess in both sodium hydroxide and
aqueous ammonia.

Why do some precipitates dissolve in excess sodium, hydroxide/aqueous ammonia,

o For example, light blue precipitate copper(II) hydroxide dissolves in excess
aqueous ammonia to give a deep blue solution. Copper(II) hydroxide reacts with excess
aqueous ammonia to form compounds that are soluble in water.
o This is due to the formation of compounds that are soluble in water.

O-LEVELS CHEMISTRY PRACTICAL NOTES

Test for aqueous cations
cation effect of aqueous sodium hydroxide effect of aqueous ammonia

ammonium (NH4+) ammonia produced on warming -

calcium (Ca2+) white ppt., insoluble in excess no ppt.
2+
copper (II) (Cu ) light blue ppt., insoluble in excess light blue ppt., soluble in excess,
giving a dark blue solution
iron(II) (Fe2+) green ppt., insoluble in excess green ppt., insoluble in excess
iron(III) (Fe3+) red-brown ppt., insoluble in excess red-brown ppt., insoluble in
excess
lead(II) (Pb2+) white ppt., soluble in excess, giving a white ppt., insoluble in excess
colourless solution.
zinc (Zn2+) white ppt., soluble in excess, white ppt., soluble in excess,
giving a colourless solution giving a colourless solution

Chapter 11: Qualitative Analysis 6|Page Sec 3E/5NA Science (Chemistry)

 Try this!

Aqueous ammonia is added to a solution of a salt. A white precipitate is formed which dissolves
in an excess of aqueous ammonia.

Which metal ion could the salt contain? [Q3/P1/2013]

A Al3+ C Cu2+

B Ca2+ D Zn2+
( )

Question
1. A student forgot to label two reagent bottles. The two bottles contain either aqueous
calcium chloride or aqueous sodium chloride. How could be done to identify the two
solutions?
A Addition of aqueous lead (II) nitrate
B Addition of dilute sulfuric acid
C Addition of blue litmus paper
D Addition of aqueous sodium hydroxide
( )

Chapter 11: Qualitative Analysis 7|Page Sec 3E/5NA Science (Chemistry)

 How to test for anions?
o Common anions found in salts:
carbonate ion, nitrate ion, sulfate ion, and chloride ion
o We can distinguish these ions from one another simply by adding specific reagents.

Testing for anions

Anion Description of the test Observations Conclusion
carbonate o Add dilute acid to the o Effervescence is o Gas is carbon
(CO32–) unknown salt solution observed. dioxide.
o Bubble the gas through o The gas forms a o The unknown salt
limewater white precipitate solution contains
with limewater. carbonate ions.

o Recall: acid + metal carbonate → salt + water + carbon dioxide

chloride (Cl–) o Add dilute nitric acid, o White precipitate o The unknown salt
followed by aqueous is formed. solution contains
silver nitrate to the chloride ions.
unknown salt solution.

o The white precipitate is silver chloride AgCl (s)

o It is insoluble in water.
o Ionic equation: Ag+ (aq) + CI– (aq) → AgCl (s)
(from silver (from unknown (white precipitate)
nitrate) salt solution)

nitrate (NO3–) o Add sodium hydroxide o Effervescence is o Gas is ammonia

to the unknown salt observed. gas.
solution, followed by o The gas turns o The unknown salt
aluminium foil; warm moist red litmus solution contains
the mixture. paper blue. nitrate ions.
o Test the gas given off
with a piece of moist
red litmus paper.

o Do not confuse the test for nitrate ions with the test for ammonium
ions! Nitrate ions require the aluminium foil.

Chapter 11: Qualitative Analysis 8|Page Sec 3E/5NA Science (Chemistry)

 sulfate (SO42–) o Add dilute nitric acid, o White precipitate o The unknown salt
followed by aqueous is formed. solution contains
barium nitrate or sulfate ions.
barium chloride to the o
unknown salt solution.
o The white precipitate is barium sulfate BaSO4 (s)
o It is insoluble in water.
o Ionic equation: Ba2+ (aq) + SO42– (aq) → BaSO4 (s)
(from barium nitrate (from unknown (white precipitate)
/barium chloride) salt solution)

O-LEVELS CHEMISTRY PRACTICAL NOTES

Test for anions
anion test test result
carbonate (CO32–) add dilute acid effervescence,
carbon dioxide produced
chloride (Cl–) acidify with dilute nitric acid, white ppt.
[in solution] then add aqueous silver nitrate

nitrate (NO3–) add aqueous sodium hydroxide, then ammonia produced

[in solution] aluminium foil; warm carefully

sulfate (SO42–) acidify with dilute nitric acid, white ppt.

[in solution] then add aqueous barium nitrate

Try this! white powder Q

Add dilute hydrochloric acid

Add aqueous
ammonia

White precipitate R Gas S is produced. It produces

dissolves in excess to white precipitate in limewater
give a colourless
(a) solution
Identify
(i) Q: ______________________________

(ii) R: ______________________________

(iii) S: ______________________________

(b) Write a balanced chemical equation, with state symbols, for the formation of gas S.

_______________________________________________________

Chapter 11: Qualitative Analysis 9|Page Sec 3E/5NA Science (Chemistry)

 Question

1. A student forgot to label two reagent bottles. The two bottles contain either
aqueous potassium nitrate or aqueous sodium chloride. How could be done to
identify the two solutions?
A Addition of aqueous lead (II) nitrate
B Addition of dilute sulfuric acid
C Addition of blue litmus paper
D Addition of aqueous sodium hydroxide
( )

2. A student performed two tests on solution X, and she recorded the observations
as shown below.
Test I: A colourless gas was produced with calcium carbonate.
Test II: A white precipitate was produced with acidified silver nitrate solution.

From these tests, X could be solution of __________.

A NaCl B H2SO4 C HCl D HNO3

( )

Chapter 11: Qualitative Analysis 10|Page Sec 3E/5NA Science (Chemistry)

 3.
Aqueous solution of green solid K

add dilute nitric acid and

aqueous barium nitrate
white precipitate

filter

green
n
solution white residue L

add sodium
hydroxide solution

green precipitate M

(a) Identify

(i) K: ________________________________________________________

(ii) L: ________________________________________________________

(iii) M: ________________________________________________________

(b) Write the ionic equation, with state symbols, for the formation of white residue L.

__________________________________________________________________

(c) Write the chemical equation for the reaction between the aqueous solution of solid K
and acidified barium nitrate.

___________________________________________________________________

Chapter 11: Qualitative Analysis 11|Page Sec 3E/5NA Science (Chemistry)

 Tests for Gases
Gas Colour Test for gas Observation
and odour

Hydrogen Colourless Place a lighted splint at the mouth of the test The lighted
and tube. splint is
odourless extinguished
with a ‘pop’
sound.

pop
lighted
splint

o Example: acid + metal → salt + hydrogen

Oxygen Colourless Insert a glowing splint into the test tube. The glowing
and splint is
odourless relighted
/rekindled.

glowing splint

Sulfur dioxide Colourless Bubble the gas through acidified potassium Purple
gas with a manganate (VII). acidified
pungent potassium
smell manganate
Dilute
hydrochloric (VII) turns
acid colourless.

Sodium sulfite
Acidified potassium
manganate (VII)

Chapter 11: Qualitative Analysis 12|Page Sec 3E/5NA Science (Chemistry)

 Gas Colour Test for gas Observation
and odour

Carbon dioxide Colourless Bubble the gas through limewater (calcium A white
and hydroxide). precipitate
odourless with
limewater.
Dilute
hydrochloric
acid

Calcium
Calcium carbonate hydroxide
(limewater)

o Example: metal carbonate + acid → salt + water + carbon dioxide

o Did you know?: The white precipitate formed with limewater is actually
calcium carbonate.
o Precaution: Remove the delivery tube from the limewater as soon as
heating is stopped to prevent a suck-back of liquid.

Chlorine Greenish- Place a piece of moist blue litmus paper at the The moist
yellow gas mouth of test tube. blue litmus
with a paper turns
pungent red, and is
smell moist blue then
litmus paper bleached.

o Chlorine gas is acidic.

Chapter 11: Qualitative Analysis 13|Page Sec 3E/5NA Science (Chemistry)

 Gas Colour Test for gas Observation
and odour

Ammonia Colourless Place a piece of moist red litmus paper at the The moist
gas with a mouth of the test tube. red litmus
pungent paper turns
smell blue.

Ammonia
gas is
alkaline.
o Example: alkali/base + ammonium salt → salt + water + ammonia
o Did you know?: The moist litmus paper allows the ammonia gas to dissolve
in water to form ammonium hydroxide, which provides the hydroxide ions
that turn red litmus paper blue!
o Precaution: Ensure that the moist litmus paper do not touch the (inner)
surface of the test tube. The solution on the surface of the test tube could
give a false positive result.

Question

Solid ammonium chloride decomposes on heating according to the following

equation:
NH4Cl (s) → NH3 (g) to HCl (g)

Which change occurs to the damp red litmus paper in the experiment above?
(Q2/P1/2013)

A remains red
B turns blue and is then bleached
C turns blue and remains blue
D turns blue and then turns red ( )

Chapter 11: Qualitative Analysis 14|Page Sec 3E/5NA Science (Chemistry)

 NOTES 11.3

LESSON OBJECTIVES
At the end of the lesson, you will be able to:
o define thermal decomposition.
o describe tests to identify the gas liberated from the thermal decomposition of common
salts.

Definition of thermal decomposition

o Thermal decomposition is a chemical reaction where a single compound is broken down into
two or more simpler compounds or elements when heated.
o The decomposition reaction is irreversible.
Example 1:
Copper(II) carbonate decomposes on heating to form copper(II) oxide and carbon dioxide.
Chemical equation: CuCO3 (s) → CuO (s) + CO2 (g)

Example 2:
Zinc nitrate decomposes on heating to give zinc oxide, nitrogen dioxide and oxygen.
Chemical equation: 2 Zn(NO3)2 (s) → 2 ZnO (s) + 4 NO2 (g) + O2 (g)

Reactivity Series Action of HEAT on

for Metals Metal hydroxides Metal carbonates Metal nitrates
More reactive Stable, does not Stable, does not Decompose to form
Potassium
decompose on heating decompose on heating metal nitrite and oxygen
Sodium on heating
Calcium
Magnesium
Decompose to form Decompose to form Decompose to form
Aluminium
metal oxide and steam metal oxide and metal oxide, oxygen and
Zinc
on heating carbon dioxide on nitrogen dioxide (brown
Iron
heating gas) on heating
Lead
Copper
Less reactive

Chapter 11: Qualitative Analysis 15|Page Sec 3E/5NA Science (Chemistry)

 o Generally compounds of very reactive metals (sodium, potassium) are more stable to heat
(not easily decomposed by heat) than the metals lower down in the reactivity series of
metals.

Before heating:
Observation Possible Deductions
Coloured compound Transition metal compound
White compound Group I, II, III metal compounds; ammonium compounds,zinc
compounds
Powdery solid or fine Likely to be a carbonate
powder
Large crystals Likely to be salts such as chlorides, nitrates and sulfates
Grey powder / silver Metals such as Mg, Al, Zn & Fe
powder

After heating:
Observation Possible Deductions
White residue or white deposits Compounds of Group I, II and III metals. / Ammonium
salts.
Residue is likely to be oxides of Group I, II and III
metals.
Black powdery residue Copper (II) compounds, iron (II) compounds.
Residue is likely to be CuO, FeO.
Yellow residue when hot, white residue Zinc compound; residue is zinc oxide.
when cold.
Solid changes colour from green to Solid is copper (II) carbonate. CuO residue is formed.
black powder residue.

Chapter 11: Qualitative Analysis 16|Page Sec 3E/5NA Science (Chemistry)

 Possible gas evolved during heating
Observation Possible Deductions
Carbonate is present.
Carbon dioxide produced.
But not Na2CO3 or K2CO3 because they are stable to heat.

Ammonia produced. Ammonium salt is present.

Only Oxygen is produced. NaNO3 or KNO3 is present.

Oxygen and Nitrogen All other metal nitrates e.g. Ca(NO3)2 , Zn(NO3)2 , Pb(NO3)2 ,
dioxide are produced. Cu(NO3)2.

Sulfur dioxide All sulfites SO32–, iron(II) sulfate

Colourless droplets of liquid Water droplets are produced. Water of crystallisation from
condensed on cool walls of hydrated crystals e.g. CuSO4.5H2O, FeSO4.7H2O, Na2CO3.10H2O or
test tube. water from thermal decomposition of metal hydroxides

Common coloured compounds

o Copper(II) oxide: black powder
o Copper(II) carbonate: green powder
o Copper(II) hydroxide: light blue solid
o Hydrated copper(II) sulfate: blue crystal
o Anhydrous copper(II) sulfate: white powder
o Hydrated iron (III) nitrate: red-brown crystals
o Iron (III) oxide: red brown solid
o Hydrated iron (II) sulfate: green crystals
o Zinc oxide: yellow solid when hot, white solid when cooled

Chapter 11: Qualitative Analysis 17|Page Sec 3E/5NA Science (Chemistry)

 CHEMISTRY PRACTICAL NOTES

Test for anions

anion test test result

carbonate (CO32–) add dilute acid effervescence,
carbon dioxide produced
chloride (Cl–) acidify with dilute nitric acid, white ppt.
[in solution] then add aqueous silver nitrate

nitrate (NO3–) add aqueous sodium hydroxide, then ammonia produced

[in solution] aluminium foil; warm carefully

sulfate (SO42–) acidify with dilute nitric acid, white ppt.

[in solution] then add aqueous barium nitrate

Test for aqueous cations

Cation effect of aqueous sodium hydroxide effect of aqueous ammonia

ammonium (NH4+) ammonia produced on warming -

calcium (Ca2+) white ppt., insoluble in excess no ppt.
2+ light blue ppt., insoluble in excess light blue ppt., soluble in excess,
copper (II) (Cu )
giving a dark blue solution
iron(II) (Fe2+) green ppt., insoluble in excess green ppt., insoluble in excess
iron(III) (Fe3+) red-brown ppt., insoluble in excess red-brown ppt., insoluble in
excess
lead(II) (Pb2+) white ppt., soluble in excess, giving a white ppt., insoluble in excess
colourless solution.
zinc (Zn2+) white ppt., soluble in excess, white ppt., soluble in excess,
giving a colourless solution giving a colourless solution

Test for gases

gas test and test result

ammonia (NH3) turns damp red litmus paper blue
carbon dioxide (CO2) gives white ppt. with limewater
(ppt. dissolves with excess CO2)
chlorine (Cl2) bleaches damp litmus paper
hydrogen (H2) ‘pops’ with a lighted splint
oxygen (O2) relights a glowing splint
sulfur dioxide (SO2) turns aqueous acidified potassium manganate(VII) from purple to
colourless

Chapter 11: Qualitative Analysis 18|Page Sec 3E/5NA Science (Chemistry)