Aim:

To test for metal cations in aqueous solution.

Materials:

1 mol dm-3 solutions of: aluminium nitrate, ammonium chloride, magnesium nitrate, calcium
nitrate, lead(II) nitrate, zinc nitrate, iron(ll) sulphate, iron(II) chloride, copper(II) sulphate, 2.0
mol dm-3 sodium hydroxide solution, 2.0 mol dm-3 ammonia and red litmus paper.

Apparatus:

Test tubes, beakers and dropper.

Procedure:

A. Using sodium hydroxide solution to test for metal cations

1. About 2 cm' of aluminium nitrate solution is poured into a test tube.

2. A dropper is used to add sodium hydroxide solution drop by drop to in the test tube.
The mixture is shaken after each addition of alkali.

3. Any changes that occur are noted.

4. If a precipitate is produced, the addition of sodium hydroxide solution is continued

until in excess. The mixture is shaken well after each addition of alkali.

5. Observation on whether the precipitate dissolves in excess alkali is noted.

6. Steps 1 to 5 are repeated using each of the cation solutions listed in Table to replace
aluminium nitrate solution.

B. Using ammonia solution to test for metal cations.

1. Steps 1 to 6 in section A are repeated using ammonia solution to replace sodium

hydroxide solution.

2. The results are recorded in a table.

Results:

Cation Solution Cation Observation

Sodium hydroxide Ammonia
solution solution
Aluminium nitrate Al3+ White precipitate. White precipitate.
Dissolves in excess Insoluble in
alkali to produce a excess alkali.
colourless solution.
Calcium nitrate Ca2+ White precipitate. No precipitate.
Insoluble excess
alkali.
Copper(II) sulphate Cu2+ Blue precipitate. Blue precipitate.
Insoluble in excess Dissolves in
alkali. excess alkali to
produce a dark
blue solution.
Iron(II) sulphate Fe2+ Green precipitate. Green
Insoluble in excess precipitate.
alkali. Insoluble in
excess alkali.
Iron(III) chloride Fe3+ Brown precipitate. Brown
Insoluble in excess precipitate.
alkali. Insoluble in
excess alkali.
Lead(II) nitrate Pb2+ White precipitate. White precipitate.
Dissolves in excess Dissolves in
alkali. excess alkali to
produce a
colourless
solution
Ammonium NH- 4 No precipitate No precipitate
chloride

Discussion:
 1. Sodium hydroxide solution is a strong alkali, providing a high concentration of
hydroxide ions. Hence, it is able to precipitate all the metal cations used.
2. The weaker ammonia solution is unable to ionise fully to provide a high concentration
of hydroxide ions needed to precipitate calcium ions.
3. Transition metal cations form coloured precipitate, whereas non-transition metal
cations form white precipitate.
4. Aluminium hydroxide, lead(II) hydroxide and zinc hydroxide dissolve in excess
sodium hydroxide solution due to their amphoteric property, that is, they exhibit both
acidic and basic properties.
5. Copper(II) hydroxide and zinc hydroxide dissolve in excess ammonia solution
because they are able to form complex ions with ammonia molecules.

Conclusion:

Most metal ions can be precipitated in the form of metal hydroxides.