GCSE AQA Chemical Analysis Test Cards

Cards to give an overview of chemical analysis tests.

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Flame Tests for Positive Ions

Tests for metal ions. When some of these elements are put in a flame, colours are produced:

Lithium-Bright Red

Sodium-Golden Yellow

Potassium-Lilac

Calcium-Bright Red

Barium-Green

Magnesium-No Colour

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Flame Tests for Positive Ions, Metal Hydroxides

When sodium hydroxide is added to metal hydroxides, a precipitate can form:

Aluminium, calcium and magnesium ions form white precipitates. Aluminium hydroxide dissolves when excess sodium hydroxide is added.

Copper(II) hydroxide is blue.

Iron(II) hrdroxide is green and slowly turns brown.

Iron(III) hydroxide is reddish brown.

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Tests for Negative Ions, Carbonate Ions

Add dilute hydrochloric acid to the substance to see if it fizzes. If it does and the gas produced turns lime water milky, the substance contains carbonate ions.

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Tests for Positive Ions, Halide Ions

Add dilute nitric acid and then silver nitrate and a precipitate is produced.

Chloride-White

Bromide-Cream

Iodide-Yellow

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Tests for Negative Ions, Sulfate Ions

Add dilute hydrochloric acid and then barium chloride solution. If a white precipitate forms, sulfate ions are present.

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Tests for Negative Ions, Nitrate Ions

Add a little aluminium powder and then sodium hydroxide solution. Gently warm and test the gas given off with damp red litmus paper. If it turns blue, ammonia was produced and nitrate ions are present.

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Tests for Negative Ions, Metal Carbonates

Carbonates also produce carbon dioxide when they decompose on heating but can be more difficult to detect.

Copper carbonate is green and when heated it decomposes to form black copper oxide.

Zinc carbonate is white and decomposes to form zinc oxide, which is yellow when hot but turns white when cool.

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Testing for Organic Substances

All organic compounds contain carbon. Many organic compounds burn when heated in air and produce carbon dioxide. Those that do not burn usually blacken or char showing that they contain carbon.

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Comments

Victoria Beadie

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This is really REALLY helpful! It's brief and to the Point, which is just what I was looking for. My C3 exam is tomorrow morning and I was really struggling with the chemical analysis; THANKYOU SOO MUCH!!

akoo :)

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thanks :)

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