Lab #: 16
Date: January 2022
Topic: Identification of Cations
Aim: To identify cations present in solutions of various salts
Apparatus: Test tubes, droppers
Reagents: aqueous sodium hydroxide solution, aqueous ammonium (ammonium hydroxide
solution), solutions of various salts
Part A: Add few drops of NaOH (aq), note results. Add Excess NaOH (aq), note results. Salt
Salt Observation Inference
A White precipitate Cations: Al3+ , Zn2+ , Pb2+
soluble in excess
Al3+ (aq) + 3OH- (aq) Al(OH)3 (s)
Zn2+ (aq) + 2OH- (aq) Zn(OH)2 (s)
Pb2+ (aq) + 2OH- (aq) Pb(OH)2 (s)
B No precipitate Cations: NH4+
NH4+ (aq) + OH- (aq) NH3 (g) + H2O (l)
C White precipitate Cations: Al3+ , Zn2+ , Pb2+
Soluble in excess
Al3+ (aq) + 3OH- (aq) Al(OH)3 (s)
Zn2+ (aq) + 2OH- (aq) Zn(OH)2 (s)
Pb2+ (aq) + 2OH- (aq) Pb(OH)2 (s)
D White precipitate Cations: Ca2+
Insoluble in excess
Ca2+ (aq) + 2OH- (aq) Ca(OH)2 (s)
E White precipitate Cations: Al3+ , Zn2+ , Pb2+
Soluble in excess
Al3+ (aq) + 3OH- (aq) Al(OH)3 (s)
Zn2+ (aq) + 2OH- (aq) Zn(OH)2 (s)
Pb2+ (aq) + 2OH- (aq) Pb(OH)2 (s)
F Red brown precipitate Cations: Fe3+
Insoluble in excess
Fe3+ (aq) + 3OH- (aq) Fe(OH)3 (s)
G Green precipitate Cations: Fe2+
Insoluble in excess
Fe2+ (aq) + 2OH- (aq) Fe(OH)2 (s)
H Blue precipitate Cations: Cu2+
Insoluble in excess
Cu2+ (aq) + 20H- (aq) Cu(OH)2 (s)
Part B: Add Few drops of NH3 (aq) (same as NH4OH), note results. Add Excess NH3(aq) i.e.
(NH4OH), note results.
Salt Observation Inference
A White precipitate Cations: Al3+ , Pb2+
Insoluble in excess
Al3+ (aq) + 3OH- (aq) Al(OH)3 (s)
Pb2+ (aq) + 2OH- (aq) Pb(OH)2 (s)
B No precipitate Cations: NH4+
C White precipitate Cations: Al3+ , Pb2+
Insoluble in excess
Al3+ (aq) + 3OH- (aq) Al(OH)3 (s)
Pb2+ (aq) + 2OH- (aq) Pb(OH)2 (s)
D No precipitate Cations: Ca2+
E White precipitate Cations: Zn2+
Soluble in excess
Zn2+ (aq) + 2OH- (aq) Zn(OH)2 (s)
F Red brown precipitate Cations: Fe3+
Insoluble in excess
Fe3+ (aq) + 3OH- (aq) Fe(OH)3 (s)
G Green precipitate Cations: Fe2+
Insoluble in excess
Fe2+ (aq) + 2OH- (aq) Fe(OH)2 (s)
H Blue precipitate Cations: Cu2+
Soluble in excess
Cu2+ (aq) + 20H- (aq) Cu(OH)2 (s)
Part C: Confirmatory tests for Pb2+ , Zn2+ and Al3+
Add a few drops of dilute potassium iodide solution
Salt Observation Inference
A Yellow precipitate Cations: Pb2+
Pb2+ (aq) + 2OH- (aq) Pb(OH)2 (s)
C No precipitate Cations: Al3+
Al3+ (aq) + 3OH- (aq) Al(OH)3 (s)
E No precipitate Cations: Zn2+
Zn2+ (aq) + 2OH- (aq) Zn(OH)2 (s)
Part D:
Salt Procedure Observation Inference
B Add NaOH(aq) to 10 White fumes
drops of B, heat gently NH4+ (aq) + OH- (aq) NH3 (g) +
and test any gases given Pungent odor H2O(l)
off with moist red
litmus paper and a glass Cations: NH4+ Gas produced: NH3 (g)
rod dipped in
concentrated HCl(aq). Ammonium NH4+ is a cation that it reacts
Note smell of any gas , all products formed are soluble. In this
evolved reaction, the ammonium chloride is an
amphoteric oxide (reacts with both acids
and strong bases) which reacts to give
ammonia gas , a soluble salt and water.
Ammonia gas is the white fumes which
was produced in the reaction and is what
causes a pungent smell.
Conclusion:
The Cation that is represented by letter A, is lead (II) Pb2+ . When it reacts with sodium
hydroxide, it forms a white precipitate, which is soluble in excess, when it reacts Ammonium
Hydroxide, it forms a white precipitate, which is insoluble in excess, when it reacts with iodide,
it forms a yellow precipitate, which is insoluble in excess. The Cation that is represented by letter
B, is Ammonium NH4+ . When it reacts with sodium hydroxide, it does not form a precipitate
because all products formed from ammonium is soluble, when it reacts Ammonium Hydroxide,
it does not form a precipitate. The Cation that is represented by letter C, is Aluminium Al 3+ .
When it reacts with sodium hydroxide, it forms a white precipitate, which is soluble in excess,
when it reacts Ammonium Hydroxide, it forms a white precipitate, which is insoluble in excess,
when it reacts with iodide, it does not form a precipitate. The Cation that is represented by letter
D, is Calcium Ca2+ . When it reacts with sodium hydroxide, it forms a white precipitate, which is
insoluble in excess, when it reacts Ammonium Hydroxide, it does not form a precipitate. The
Cation that is represented by letter E, is Zinc Zn2+ . When it reacts with sodium hydroxide, it
forms a white precipitate, which is soluble in excess, when it reacts Ammonium Hydroxide, it
forms a white precipitate, which is soluble in excess, when it reacts with iodide, it does not form
a precipitate. The Cation that is represented by letter F, is iron (III) Pb3+ . When it reacts with
sodium hydroxide, it forms a red brown precipitate, which is insoluble in excess, when it reacts
Ammonium Hydroxide, it forms a red brown precipitate, which is insoluble in excess. The
Cation that is represented by letter G, is iron (II) Fe2+ . When it reacts with sodium hydroxide, it
forms a green precipitate, which is insoluble in excess, when it reacts Ammonium Hydroxide, it
forms a green precipitate, which is insoluble in excess. The Cation that is represented by letter H,
is Copper (II) Cu2+ . When it reacts with sodium hydroxide, it forms a blue precipitate, which is
insoluble in excess, when it reacts Ammonium Hydroxide, it forms a blue precipitate, which is
insoluble in excess.
