different metal ions give off different
coloured flames when solutions of those
ions are heated in a bunsen burner flame
spray metal compound solution into a bunsen burner flame
use wooden splints soaked overnight in the metal compound solution
use a loop of nichrome wire to hold a small volume of solution in the flame
if nichrome wire used - must be cleaned between each flame test.... dip
loop into concentrated hydrochloric acid and hold in flame.....process
repeated until wire no longer affects the flame colour...... traces of sodium
ions are particuarly difficult to remove
lithium ( crimson)
sodium (yellow)
potassium (lilac)
calcium (red)
barium (green)
hydroxide precipitates
copper and iron form coloured compounds
coloured hydroxide precipitate is
formed when a few drops of sodium
hydroxide solution are added to
solutions of metal ions
eg Cu+2 + OH = Cu(OH)2
copper(ii) ( blue )
iron(ii) ( green )
iron(iii) (brown)
aluminium , calcium and magnesium
ions form hydroxide precipitate with
sodium hydroxide solution.
difficult to tell apart as they are all white
though..... aluminium hydroxide
precipitate dissolves to form a
colourless solution when excess
sodium hydroxide solution is added
Testing for negative ions
Carbonate ions
compounds containg carbonate ions react with dilute acids to form carbon dioxide
eg.....drops of hydrochloric acid added to calcium
carbonate causes bubbling on the surface of the
solid
most carbonates are insoluble in water
........HOWEVER sodium carbonate is soluble
sodium carbonate
solution addded to dilute
acid causes brief
bubbling
limewater, calcium hydroxide solution is used
as a comfirmatory test for production of
CO2...........white precipitate of calcium
carbonate formed when CO2 is bubbled
through limewater
Ca(OH)2 (aq) + CO2 (g) = CaCO3 (s) + H2O (l)
Sulfate ions
barium sulfate insoluble in water BUT not barium chloride
white precipitate of barium sulfate forms when barium chloride solution is added to solutions containing sulfate ions