NAME: Wendy

DATE: Thursday 15th February 2018

LAB NO:

TITLE: Unknown ions of water soluble Salt Z

EXPERIMENT: Unknown ions of water soluble Salt Z

HYPOTHESIS: To determine the unknown anions SO42- and NO32- and the cation Na+ in the
unknown salt Z

AIM: To determine an experiment that can be used to find the unknown ions of water soluble
salt Z.

APPARATUS & MATERIALS: Test tubes, Salt Z, Flame wire, aqueous hydrogen chloride,
Distilled water, Barium chloride/ barium nitrate, Acidified potassium manganate
solution(VII), sulphuric acid, silver nitrate, test tube holder.

TEST ON SALT T OBSERVATIONS INFERENCE

1. A small sample of
the salt Z was heated
in a dry test tube.

2. A flame test wire

was dipped into salt
Z. It was then put
into the edge of a
blue Bunsen flame.

Some of Salt Z was

dissolved in distilled
water and divided
into 4 portions for
tests 3-6.
TEST ON T OBSERVATIONS INFERENCE
3. Dilute hydrogen
chloride was added
until in excess.

4. Barium chloride/
Barium nitrate was
added until in excess.

5. Acidified potassium
manganate (VII)was
added and then
sulphuric acid.

6. Aqueous silver
nitrate was added
then heated.

TREATMENT OF RESULTS:

1. A small sample of salt Z was heated in a dry test tube: This was done to observe the
effect of the residue after heating. When the Salt Z is heated if there is a gas produced
and tested, if nitrates are present there should be a reddish brown pungent odour which
turns litmus red. This indicates that nitrates are present in the Salt Z.

2. A flame test wire was dipped into salt Z, It was then put into the edge of a blue Bunsen
flame: This test was done so as to distinguish the Cation that may be present before
further analysis. If this step was done and a yellow flame was produced this can mean
that the sodium (Na+) ion was present in Salt Z.
 3. Dilute hydrogen chloride was added until in excess: This was done to test for the
sulphate ion. If sulphate is present in Salt Z, a colourless choking odour will be
produced which turns blue litmus red.

4. Barium chloride/Barium nitrate was added until in excess: This was done to test for the
sulphate ion as well. When Barium Chloride reacts with salt Z, in the presence of a
sulphate, there would be a white precipitate produced.

5. Acidified potassium manganate (VII)was added and then sulphuric acid: When this
test is done, If there is Nitrates present in Salt Z there would be a chemical reaction
which will turn the solution colourless where there is no gas evolved.

6. Aqueous silver nitrate was added then heated. When this is added the silver nitrate
reacts with salt Z in the presence of a nitrate to form a white precipitate is formed
from concentrated ions. When heated the precipitate turns grey black due to the
decomposition of silver.

Assumption: There would be varying reactions which would indicate the ions of the salt.

Limitation: The surrounding temperature can have an effect on the reaction

Precaution: Monitor reaction at each sample correctly and accurately.