Chemical tests - TN Flashcards
test for hydrogen
burn it in oxygen
hear a squeaky pop
why is a squeaky pop heard when hydrogen is burnt in oxygen
all the hot gas rushing out of the test tube
test for oxygen and why
a glowing splint relighting - the oxygen in the tube is more concentrated than in normal air so the wood in the splint combusts faster
how to test for the presence of water
anhydrous copper sulfate turning white to blue
how to test the purity of water
measure its boiling point - 100*C
closer to 100*C = more pure
test for carbon dioxide and why
bubble it through limewater - limewater is a saturated calcium hydroxide solution. it forms a white precipitate of calcium carbonate when it reacts with CO2
test for chlorine
damp (the cl dissolves into the H2O) blue litmus turning blue to white - cl is a bleaching agent so it removes the colour.
test for ammonia and why
damp red litmus turning red to blue
NH3 reacting with the H2O to form OH- ions which are alkaline = blue colour
what is a cation
a positive ion
what kind of flame is needed on a Bunsen burner in order to carry out a flame test
a non-luminous (blue) flame
3 steps to conduct a flame test
- dip a piece of nichrome/platinum wire into hydrochloric acid (these wires don’t colour the flame and the acid cleans the wire)
- dip the wire into a sample of solid or solution
- place the tip of the wire into a non-luminous bunsen flame
flame test colour of lithium
red
flame test colour of sodium
yellow
flame test colour of potassium
lilac
flame test colour of calcium
orange-red