CHEMICAL TESTS

INORGANIC TESTS
TEST FOR TEST OBSERVATIONS TEST CHEMISTRY
METHOD
hydrogen gas lit splint or spill squeaky pop! (might 2H2(g) + O2(g) ==> 2H2O(l) + energy!
H2 see condensation on
test tube)
carbon dioxide gas bubble into turns cloudy – fine Ca(OH)2(aq) + CO2(g) ==> CaCO3(s) + H2O(l)
CO2 limewater milky white precipitate
(aqueous calcium of calcium carbonate
hydroxide solution)
oxygen gas O2 glowing splint or re-ignites it - C(in wood) + O2(g)  ==> CO2(g)
spill flame

Hydrogen (i) blue litmus and (i) litmus turns red, (i) Strongly acid gas, (ii) in water forms chloride
chloride gas (ii) drop of silver (ii) white precipitate ions - hence precipitate with silver nitrate.
nitrate on the end with silver nitrate
HCl, in water of a glass rod
hydrochloric acid
Hydrogen As above. In water as above but cream as above - combination of acid and halide ion
bromide HBr and they are HBr or yellow HI tests

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Hydrogen iodide HI hydrobromic acid precipitate
and hydriodic acid.
Sulphur freshly made paper changes from the dichromate(VI) ion, Cr2O72-(aq) is reduced to
dioxide gas potassium orange to green the green Cr3+(aq) ion
dichromate(VI)
SO2 paper
Ammonia gas strong pungent (i) litmus turns blue, (i) only common alkaline gas and (ii) forms fine
NH3 odour*, (i) red (ii) white clouds with ammonium chloride crystals with HCl (*volatile
litmus, (ii) fumes HCl fumes. organic aliphatic amines give the same result,
conc. hydrochloric and smell more fishy)
acid 
Chlorine gas (i) blue litmus, (ii) pungent green gas, (i) (i) non-metal, is acid in aqueous solution and a
Cl2 [test (ii) on its drop silver nitrate litmus turns red and powerful oxidising agent, (ii) forms chloride ion in
own is no good, on the end of a then is bleached water
could be HCl] glass rod white, (ii) white
precipitate
Iodine solid (i) heating, (ii) test (i) purple vapour, (ii)  
aqueous solution blue black colour with
or solid with starch starch solution
solution
Nitrogen(IV) no simple relatively nasty brown gas strong oxidising agent
oxide (or unambiguous test
nitrogen dioxide)
NO2
Water liquid H2O (i) white anhydrous (i) turns from white to (i) blue hydrated copper(II) crystals or solution
copper(II) blue, (ii) turns from formed, (ii) hydrated cobalt ion formed
sulphate, (ii) dry blue to  pink [Co(H2O)6]2+ 
blue cobalt chloride
paper
Carbonate ion CO32- add any dilute fizzing - colourless carbonate/hydrogencarbonate + acid ==> salt +
(or hydrogencarbonate strong acid to the gas - turns water + carbon dioxide, then white precipitate
HCO3-) suspected limewater milky with limewater.
carbonate - if cloudy (see above
colourless gas CO2)
given off, test with
limewater
Sulphate to a solution of the white precipitate of Ba2+(aq) + SO42-(aq) ==> BaSO4(s)
ion [sulphate(VI)] suspected sulphate barium sulphate
add dilute any soluble barium salt + any soluble sulphate
SO42- hydrochloric acid ==> barium sulphate
and a few drops of
barium chloride
or nitrate solution
Sulphite ion (i) add dilute (i) acrid (i) sulphite salt + hydrochloric acid ==> chloride
[sulphate(IV)] SO32- hydrochloric acid choking salt + sulphur dioxide, (ii) the sulphur dioxide
to the suspected sulphur reduces the dichromate(VI) to chromium(III).
sulphite, (ii) test dioxide gas formed, Note: sulphites do  not give ppt. with acidified
any gas evolved (ii) the dichromate barium chloride/nitrate because sulphites dissolve
with fresh paper turns from in acids.

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 potassium orange to green
dichromate(VI)
paper
Sulphide ion (i) If soluble, add a (i) Black ppt. of lead (i) Pb2+(aq) + S2-(aq) => PbS(s) 
few drops lead(II) sulphide.
ethanoate solution. (ii) MS(s) + 2H+(aq) => M2+(aq) + H2S(g) (e.g. M =
S2- for (ii)
dangerous hydrogen (ii) Rotten egg smell Pb, Fe, Cu, Ni etc.) Then reaction (i) above
sulphide formed (ii) If solid, add dil. of hydrogen sulphide occurs.
HCl(aq) acid, test and the H2S gas turns
gas with lead(II) lead(II) ethanoate
ethanoate paper. paper black.
Chloride ion (i) if soluble, add (i) white (i) Ag+(aq) + Cl-(aq) ==> AgCl(s) , any soluble
dilute nitric acid precipitate silver salt + any soluble chloride  ==> silver
and silver nitrate of silver chloride precipitate, (ii) Cl-(s) + H2SO4(l) ==> HSO4-
Cl- chloride soluble in (s) + HCl(g) , then Ag (aq) + Cl (aq) ==> AgCl(s)
+ -
solution, (ii) if
insoluble salt, add dilute ammonia, (ii)
conc. sulphuric get fumes of hydrogen
acid, warm if chloride which turn
necessary then test blue litmus red and
gas as for HCl give a white
above. precipitate with silver
nitrate solution
Bromide ion (i) if soluble, add (i) cream (i) Ag+(aq) + Br-(aq) ==> AgBr(s) any soluble silver
dilute nitric acid precipitate salt + any soluble bromide  ==> silver bromide
and silver nitrate of silver precipitate, (ii)  bromide ion is oxidised to
Br- bromide, only soluble bromine and the sulphuric acid is reduced to
solution, (ii) if
insoluble salt, add in concentrated sulphur dioxide
conc. sulphuric ammonia, (ii) orange
acid, warm if vapour, test for
necessary  sulphur dioxide.
(i) if soluble, add (i) yellow (i) Ag+(aq) + I-(aq) ==> AgI(s) , any soluble silver
Iodide ion I-  dilute nitric acid precipitate salt + any soluble iodide  ==> silver iodide
and silver nitrate of silver precipitate, (ii) iodide ion is oxidised to iodine and
solution, (ii) if iodide insoluble in the sulphuric acid is reduced to hydrogen
insoluble salt can concentrated sulphide, (iii) insoluble lead(II) iodide formed,
heat with conc. ammonia, (ii) purple Pb2+(aq) + 2I-(aq) ==> PbI2(s)
sulphuric acid, (ii) vapour and rotten egg
get purple fumes smell!, (iii) a yellow
of iodine and very precipitate forms
smelly hydrogen
sulphide, (iii) if
soluble, add
lead(II) nitrate
solution
Nitrate ion [or (i) boil the (i) the fumes (i) the aluminium powder is a powerful reducing
nitrate(V)] NO3- suspected nitrate contain agent and converts the nitrate ion, NO3-, into
with sodium ammonia, ammonia gas, NH3
hydroxide solution which turns red litmus
and fine aluminium blue, see ammonia (ii) NO complex of iron(II) formed
powder (Devarda's test details

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 Alloy)
(ii) Where the liquids
(ii) Add iron(ii) meet a brown ring
sulphate solution forms
and then conc.
sulphuric acid (the
'brown ring' test)
Nitrite ion [or No simple test, (i) in acid solution it decomposes to give nasty brown fumes of NO2, (ii) it
nitrate(III)] decolourises (purple ==> colourless) acidified potassium manganate(VII), (iii) it liberates
NO2 - iodine from acidified potassium iodide solution, (iv) forms ammonia with hot Al
powder/NaOH(aq) and gives 'brown ring' test - see nitrate tests above.
Ammonium ion NH4+ no smell at first, smelly ammonia gas is evolved: NH4+(aq) + OH-(aq) ==>
add COLD sodium ammonia NH3(g) + H2O(l)
hydroxide solution evolved!
to the suspected and red
ammonium salt litmus turns blue
and test any gas
with red litmus
Hydrogen ion (i) litmus or (i) litmus turns red, (i) pH meter gives a value of less than 7, the
ie acids! H or + universal indicator variety of colours with lower the pH number the stronger the acid, the
or pH meter, (ii) univ. ind. strong - red, higher the H+ concentration, (ii) HCO3-(aq) + H+(aq)
H3O+ (note: to
add a little sodium weak - yellow/orange, ==> H2O(l) + CO2(g)
completely identify acids
hydrogencarbonate (ii) fizzing with any
you need to test for the
powder carbonate - test for
anion eg chloride for HCl
CO2 as above
etc.)
Hydroxide ion (i) litmus or (i) turns litmus blue, (i) pH meter gives a value of more than 7, the
ie an alkali universal indicator variety of colours univ. higher the pH number the stronger the alkali, the
or pH meter, (ii) ind. dark green - violet higher the OH- concentration, (ii) ammonia gas is
OH- (note: to add ammonium for weak - strong, (ii) evolved: NH4+(aq) + OH-(aq) ==> NH3(g) + H2O(l)
completely identify salt if strongly alkaline
alkalis you need to test ammonia should be
for the cation eg sodium
released, see
for NaOH etc.)
ammonia test for rest
of details
Positive metal The metal salt or lithium Li+ crimson All colours are due to electronic excitation to a
cations via other compound  is sodium Na+ yellow higher level. You see the light emitted as the
mixed with electron returns to its lower more stable level.
flame tests concentrated potassium K+ lilac This is the basis of atomic emission and
(see below for hydrochloric acid calcium Ca2+ brick absorption spectroscopy. Aluminium, magnesium,
NaOH and NH3 and a sample of iron and zinc do not produce a useful identifying
red
for metal ion the mixture is flame colour.
tests too) barium Ba2+ apple
heated strongly in
green
a bunsen flame on
the end of a copper(II) Cu2+
cleaned nichrome blue/green
wire (platinum if
you can afford it!)
Positive metal Dilute sodium aluminium ion: Al3+(aq) + 3OH-(aq) ==> Al(OH)3(s) white precipitate
hydroxide *  The ppt. is not soluble in excess of the weak alkali ammonia, but

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cations via sodium solution is added dissolves in the strong alkali sodium hydroxide: Al(OH)3(s) + 3OH-(aq) ==>
hydroxide (NaOH) or to a solution [Al(OH)6]3-(aq) (amphoteric behaviour)
containing the calcium ion: Ca2+(aq) + 2OH-(aq) ==> Ca(OH)2(s) white ppt. * The ppt.
ammonia (NH3) suspected ion.
solutions (both alkalis, Both the is not soluble in excess of NH3 or NaOH.
giving hydroxide ions, precipitate magnesium ion: Mg2+(aq) + 2OH-(aq) ==> Mg(OH)2(s) white ppt. * The
OH-,  in their solutions) formed and the ppt. is not soluble in excess of NH3 or NaOH. You could distinguish Mg
effect of excess from Ca with a flame test.
alkali are copper(II) ion: Cu2+(aq) + 2OH-(aq) ==> Cu(OH)2(s)
important ***blue/turquoise ppt. - this does dissolve in excess ammonia to
observations. give a deep blue solution. 
iron(II) ion: Fe2+(aq) + 2OH-(aq) ==> Fe(OH)2(s) dark green ppt.* The
All precipitates ppt. is not soluble in excess of NH3 or NaOH.
white, unless
otherwise stated iron(III) ion: Fe3+(aq) + 3OH-(aq) ==> Fe(OH)3(s) brown ppt.* The ppt.
and all tend to be is not soluble in excess of NH3 or NaOH.
gelatinous in zinc ion: Zn2+(aq) + 2OH-(aq) ==> Zn(OH)2(s) white ppt. The ppt.
nature. dissolves in both excess sodium hydroxide or ammonia to give a clear
colourless solution.
The test can be  
repeated with
aqueous  
ammonia
solution
(sometimes
wrongly called
'ammonium
hydroxide'). The
observations are
usually, but not
always, similar.

ppt. = precipitate.
MISCELLANEOUS (i) add potassium (i) Pb2+(aq) +2I-(aq) ==>PbI2(s) lead(II) iodide ppt.
CATION TESTS: iodide solution =>
yellow precipitate
(i) Lead(II) ion
Metal Carbonates Sometimes heating copper(II) carbonate==> copper(II) oxide + carbon dioxide: CuCO3(s)
a metal carbonate ==> CuO(s) + CO2(g)
strongly to
 
decompose it [green] ==> [black] + [colourless gas, test with limewater, white
provides some precipitate]
clues to its identity.
Adding acid =>
zinc carbonate==> zinc oxide + carbon dioxide
CO2 and the colour
of the resulting
solution (eg blue ZnCO3(s) ==> ZnO(s) + CO2(g)
Cu2+(aq), may also
provide clues. The [white] ==> [yellow hot, white cold] +[colourless gas, test with
metal ion solution limewater, white precipitate]
might also give a

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 flame colour or a
hydroxide  
precipitate with
sodium hydroxide
eg copper.

ORGANIC TESTS
TEST OBSERVATIONS  TEST CHEMISTRY
TEST FOR METHOD
ALKENE  or bubble gas the orange/brown R2C=CR2 + Br2 ==> BrR2C-CR2Br
alkyne any other through, or add bromine, decolourises,
non-aromatic liquid to, a solution as a saturated RC CR + 2Br2 ==> Br2RC-CRBr2
unsaturated of bromine in colourless organic
hydrocarbons hexane or water bromo-compound is
R = H, alkyl or aryl
formed (saturated
alkanes give no fast
reaction with bromine)