Qualitative Analysis Sheet Summary Sheet
Please note ppt means precipitate which is a solid formed in a chemical reaction when two solutions are mixed
Reagent(s)
Aqueous NaOH only
Aqueous ammonia (NH3) only
Silver nitrate solution AgNO3
Barium chloride or barium nitrate
solution BaCl2 or Ba(NO3)2 +
dil HCl/HNO3
Potassium iodide solution KI
Aqueous NaOH and warm mixture
Conc. H2SO4 only
Conc. H2SO4 + iron(II) sulphate
solution
Potassium iodide KI followed by
sodium thiosulphate Na2S2O3
Dil HCl or HNO3
Glowing splint
Lighted splint
Red litmus
Limewater
Placing glass rod dipped in conc HCl in
mouth of test-tube
Placing glass rod dipped in conc NH 3 in
mouth of test-tube
Acidified potassium manganate or
acidified potassium dichromate
Ion(s) that the reagent tests for
Metal cations (Ca2+, Mg2+, Cu2+, Fe2+, Fe3+)
If ppt coloured:- either Cu2+(blue), Fe2+(green), Fe3+(yellow)
If white ppt :- all other metal ions
If ppt dissolves in excess NaOH:- either Al3+, Zn2+, Pb2+
If ppt remains in excess NaOH:- any other metal ion
Please note that Ba2+ does not form a ppt
Same as above EXCEPT
Only Zn2+ ions form a white ppt which dissolve in excess NH3(aq)
Please note that Ca2+ does not form a ppt
Halide ions
If white ppt:- Cl-, If cream ppt :- Br-, If yellow ppt:- I-
Sulphite SO32- ions or sulphate SO42- ions
White ppt in presence of acid SO42-
White ppt which dissolves in presence of acid SO32-
Lead(II) ions Pb2+
Forms a yellow ppt
Sometimes can be used to determine if Al3+or Pb2+is present. If a yellow
ppt forms then lead is present, if no ppt then aluminium is present
OR
Oxidizing agent (red-brown colour is seen)
NH4+ ion
Colourless gas evolved, turn red litmus to blue
Halide ions
If white gas seen:- Cl-. If brown gas seen:- Br-. If purple gas seen:-I-
NO3- ion
Brown ring is seen
Cu2+
Mustard liquid with white ppt
Ppt dissolves to form colourless solution
Oxide or carbonate ion
If no effervescence:- oxide ion present O2-
If effervescence:- carbonate ion present CO32-
OR
Lead(II) ions
If white ppt is seen
GASES
Oxygen gas (rekindles a glowing splint)
Hydrogen gas (extinguishes the flame with a pop sound)
Ammonia (red to blue)
Carbon dioxide (white ppt seen)
Ammonia gas
Dense white fumes
Hydrogen chloride gas
Dense white fumes
Reducing agent
If manganate (turns from purple to colourless)
If dichromate (turns from orange to green)
Ionic Equations for reactions with NaOH and NH3(aq)
Ion Equation for reaction with NaOH
Ca2+, Mg2+ Ca2+ (aq) + 2OH- (aq) Ca(OH)2 (s)
Mg2+ (aq) + 2OH- (aq) Mg(OH)2 (s)
Al 3+\\\
Al3+ (aq) + 3OH- (aq) Al(OH)3 (s)
Al(OH)3 (s) + 3OH- (aq) [Al(OH)6]3- (aq)
Zn2+ Zn2+ (aq) + 2OH- (aq) Zn(OH)2 (s)
Zn(OH)2 (s) + 2OH- (aq) [Zn(OH)4]2- (aq)
Pb2+ Pb2+ (aq) + 2OH- (aq) Pb(OH)2 (s)
Cu2+ Cu2+ (aq) + 2OH- (aq) Cu(OH)2 (s)
Fe2+ Fe2+ (aq) + 3OH- (aq) Fe(OH)2 (s)
Fe3+ Fe3+ (aq) + 3OH- (aq) Fe(OH)3 (s)
Equation for reaction with NH3(aq)
Mg2+ (aq) + 2OH- (aq) Mg(OH)2 (s)
Al3+ (aq) + 3OH- (aq) Al(OH)3 (s)
Zn2+ (aq) + 2OH- (aq) Zn(OH)2 (s)
Zn(OH)2 (s) + 4NH3 (aq) [Zn(NH3)4]2-(aq)
Pb2+ (aq) + 2OH- (aq) Pb(OH)2 (s)
Cu2+ (aq) + 2OH- (aq) Cu(OH)2 (s)
Cu(OH)2 (s) + 4NH3 (aq) [Cu(NH3)4]2+ (aq)
Fe2+ (aq) + 3OH- (aq) Fe(OH)2 (s)
Fe3+ (aq) + 3OH- (aq) Fe(OH)3 (s)

Ionic Equations for tests other than NaOH or NH3 ONLY

Test with silver nitrate Ag+ (aq) + Cl- (aq) AgCl (s)
ppt darkens in presence of sunlight
AgCl (s) +2NH3 (aq) [Ag(NH3)2]+ this reaction occurs when
aqueous ammonia is added to the silver chloride ppt

Ag+ (aq) + Br- (aq) AgBr(s)

Test with barium chloride or barium nitrate with
dil HCl or HNO3
Test with KI or addition of lead(II) ions
Addition of HCl or source of Cl- ions
Addition of NaOH and warm
Addition of dilute acid to oxide or carbonate
Test with conc H2SO4 and iron(II) sulphate crystals
or solution
Addition of Devardas alloy to sample in presence of NaOH
solution and warm
Addition of KI to Cu2+ ions and then sodium thiosulphate is
added until there is no further change
Test with limewater
Test with glass rod dipped in conc HCl or NH3
Ag+ (aq) + I- (aq) AgI(s)
SO32- (aq) + 2H+ (aq) SO2(g) + H2O (l)
OR
Ba2+(aq) + SO42-(aq) BaSO4)s)
Pb2+ (aq) + 2I- (aq) PbI2 (s)
Pb2+ (aq) + 2Cl- (aq) PbCl2 (s)
NH4+(aq) + OH- (aq) NH3 (g) + H2O(l)
O2-(s) + 2H+(aq) H2O(l)
CO32-(s) + 2H+(aq) CO2(g) + H2O(l)
NO3- + 3Fe2+ + 4H+ 3Fe3+ + NO + 2H2O
[Fe(H2O)6]2+ + NO [Fe(H2O)5(NO)]2+
(brown ring)
3NO3- + 8Al + 5OH + 18H2O 3NH3 + 8[Al(OH)4]
2Cu2+(aq) + 4I-(aq) 2CuI(s) + I2(aq)
2S2O32-(aq) + I2 (aq) S4O62-(aq) + 2I-(aq)
Ca(OH)2(aq) + CO2(g) CaCO3(s) + H2O(l)
NH3(g) + HCl(g) NH4Cl (s)

Points to note
1. Precipitates should be given an adjective to describe their texture. They can be either gelatinous (like a gel or slimy looking) or
powdery/granular .
2. When a ppt (hydroxide) dissolves in excess NaOH, it means the hydroxide is amphoteric and forms a complex ion.
If the ppt (hydroxide) dissolves in excess NH3(aq) it is not amphoteric but it forms a complex ion.
3. All silver salts darken in the presence of sunlight, because silver ions are reduced to silver atoms responsible for the grey or purple
colour.
4. Iron(II) hydroxide Fe(OH)2 turns brown on standing as it is oxidised by air to brown iron(III) hydroxide Fe(OH) 3
5. In the test with barium chloride/nitrate, dilute nitric acid is added to prevent the precipitation of carbonates or sulphites.
6. Lead(II) chloride, bromide and iodide are more soluble in hot water than cold water and would dissolve either partially or
completely if it is boiled. When it cools, it forms needle shaped crystals.
7. Gases which turn blue litmus red are acidic and which turn red litmus blue are basic. Only gases in group VII bleach litmus i.e. turn
blue litmus red then white.
8. There are only two brown gases you will meet:- either nitrogen dioxide gas or bromine vapour.
9. If carbon dioxide gas is bubbled into limewater for too long, it first forms the white ppt but then it dissolves forming a colourless
solution. Equation:- CaCO3(s) + CO2(g) + H2O(l) Ca(HCO3)2(aq)
10. When sodium carbonate is added to Al3+ ions, a white gelatinous ppt is seen with small amounts of effervescence. This is due to
Al3+ ions being acidic and the aluminium carbonate reacts with the H+ ions forming carbon dioxide gas.