TEST OF PRACTICAL KNOWLEDGE QUESTION
Credit will be given for strict adherence to the instructions, for observations, precisely recorded, and for accurate inferences. All tests, observations, and inferences must be clearly entered in your answer book, in ink, at the time they are made.
C contains two cations and two anions. Perform the following exercises on C. Record your observations and identify any gas (es) evolved. State the conclusion you draw from the result of each test.
(a) Dissolve all of C in about 10 cm\(^3\) of distilled water. Stir the resulting solution thoroughly.
(i) To about 2 cm\(^3\) of the solution, add few drops of AgNO\(_3\) solution, followed by HNO\(_{3(aq)}\). To the mixture, add excess NH\(_{3(aq)}\)
(ii) To another 2 cm\(^3\) portion of the solution, add dil. HCl followed by BaCl\(_2\) solution.
(iii) To another 2 cm\(^3\) portion of the solution, add NaOH\(_{3(aq)}\) dropwise and then in excess. Warm the mixture.
(iv) To another 2 cm\(^3\) portion of the solution, add NH\(_{3(aq)}\) dropwise and then in excess.
Result for C
All of C dissolves in about 10 cm3 of distilled water to give a clear solution.
| Test | Observation | Inference / conclusion |
|---|
| (i) To 2 cm3 of C(aq), add AgNO3(aq), followed by HNO3(aq), then excess NH3(aq). | A white precipitate forms with AgNO3(aq). The precipitate is insoluble in dilute HNO3(aq), but dissolves in excess NH3(aq). No gas is evolved. | Chloride ion, Cl−, is present. The precipitate is AgCl. |
| (ii) To another 2 cm3 portion, add dilute HCl(aq), followed by BaCl2(aq). | No visible reaction and no gas is evolved on adding dilute HCl. A white chalky precipitate forms on adding BaCl2(aq). | Sulphate ion, SO42−, is present. The precipitate is BaSO4. |
| (iii) To another 2 cm3 portion, add NaOH(aq) dropwise, then in excess. Warm the mixture. | A white gelatinous precipitate forms on adding NaOH(aq) dropwise. It dissolves in excess NaOH(aq). On warming, a colourless pungent gas is evolved. The gas turns damp red litmus paper blue and forms dense white fumes with hydrogen chloride gas. | Zn2+ or Al3+ is initially suspected from the amphoteric white precipitate. The gas is ammonia, NH3; hence NH4+ is present. |
| (iv) To another 2 cm3 portion, add NH3(aq) dropwise, then in excess. | A white gelatinous precipitate forms on adding NH3(aq) dropwise. The precipitate dissolves in excess NH3(aq). | Zn2+ is present. Zinc hydroxide dissolves in excess ammonia to form a colourless complex. |
Final conclusion: C contains the cations Zn2+ and NH4+, and the anions Cl− and SO42−.