Testing For Anions

- Carbonate Ions - 

- You can test for carbonate ions by using a dropping pipette to add a few drops of dilute acid to a test tube containing your substance

- Connect the test tueb to one containing limewater - if carbonate ions are present, the reaction with the acid will release carbon dioxide, which will turn the limewater cloudy

- The equation for the reaction between sodium carbonate and hydrochloric acid:

- Sulfate Ions - 

- To identify sulfate ions, use a dropping pipette to add a couple drops of hydrochloric acid followed by a couple drops of barium chloride solution, to a test tube that contains your substance

- If sulfate ions are present, a white precipitate of barium sulfate will form

- The equation for the reaction is:

- Halide Ions - 

- To identify a halide ion, add a couple drops of dilute nitric acid, followed by a couple drops of silver nitrate solution to a test tube that contains out solution

- A chloride gives a white precipitate of silver chloride:

- A bromide gives a cream precipitate of silver bromide:

- An iodide gives a yellow precipitate of silver iodide: