Test For Ions: Nitrates

Question 1

How do you test for nitrates ?

Answer 1

-Add sodium hydroxide and aluminium foil to your soloution

• gently heat mixture

-if nitrate ions are present they will be reduced by AUMINIUM to ammonia ion (NH4+)

-ammonium ion reacts with hydroxide ions

• ammonia is produced and water

Question 2

What is the ionic equation for ammonia being produced in testing for nitrates

Answer 2

NH4+. +. OH- —>. Nh3. +. H2O

Question 3

What does it mean if ammonia is produced

Answer 3

Contains nitrate ions

Question 4

becuase ammonia is produced and it contains nitrate ions how can we test the gas is ammonia ?

Answer 4

Use the damp red litmus paper to test for ammonia