Name : Nurul Amirah binti Azlan

Partner’s Name : 1. Nur Ain Mashitah binti Mohd Nasir

2. Nur Lyana Sofea binti Ab Rahim
3. Joanna Rata Ak Adrin
4. Nur Maisara binti Zulkifli
Course Code : CHM477
Experiment Number : 1
Title : Qualitative Analysis for Identification of
Metal Cations
Lecturer’s Name : Mohd Sufri bin Mastuli
INTRODUCTION
Based on their chemical and physical behaviour, analytically, metal cations can be classified into five
groups as listed below;

i) Analytical Group 1 Cations

Ag⁺ , Hg²⁺, Pb²⁺
Form precipitate when reacted with HCl
II) Analytical Group 2 Cations
Asᶾ⁺, Biᶾ⁺, Cdᶾ⁺, Cu²⁺, Hg²⁺, Pb²⁺, Sn⁴⁺
Form precipitate when reacted acidic H₂S
III) Analytical Group 3 Cations
Coᶾ⁺, Fe²⁺, Mn²⁺, Ni²⁺, Zn²⁺, *Alᶾ⁺, Crᶾ⁺
Form precipitate when reacted with H₂S in NH3
*Alᶾ⁺ is separated as Al(OH)₃
IV) Analytical Group 4 Cations
Ba²⁺, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, Sr²⁺
Form precipitate when reacted with (NH₄)₂CO₃ or NH₄HPO₄
V) Analytical Group 5 Cations
Na⁺ , K⁺
Form soluble salts when reacted with (NH₄)₂CO₃ or NH₄HPO₄

OBJECTIVE
The objective of this experiment is to perform qualitative analysis to identify metal cations.

APPARATUS
Test tubes, centrifuge , test tube rack, water bath, dropper, red litmus paper, distilled water,
6M of HCL, 6M NH₃, 1M of thioacetamide (NH₄)₂CO₃, 6M of acetic acid, 1M of K₂CrO₄,
1M of K₂C₂O₄, unknown 1, unknown II, mixture of solution.
DISCUSSION
This experiment was carried out in order to identify the metal cations by qualitative analysis. Unlike
quantitative analysis, qualitative analysis focuses on identifying the components (ions) that present
in the sample and the amount of the components present does not have any significance. Ideally,
there are chemical tests that could be used to identify the individual ion without interference of
other ions. Unfortunately, there are often complications. For instance, the formation of yellow
precipitate upon addition of S²¯ often indicates the presence of Cd²⁺ in the solution. However, this
reaction often masked when there are Pb²⁺ or Cu²⁺ ions present as it will react with S²¯ instead and
will form black precipitate. Hence, before testing for any particular ion, other ions that might have
interfered must be eliminate first as to avoid the “masking” effect.

The elimination of ions in a solution can be accomplished by adding a precipitating agent that will
selectively react with a specific ion in the solution and not react with the other ions present in the
solution. The solid (precipitate) formed then can be removed through centrifugation and decanting.
However, due to the fact that several ions may behave similarly, the separation of individual ions in
complex mixture may be impossible. Instead, a group ion with similar property will be separated
from a larger mixture and the solid formed will then be further separated and reacted in order to
confirm the identity of the ions. From qualitative analysis, the component inside the known mixture
and unknown mixture can be determined.

Firstly, first reaction involves the addition of hydrochloric acid (HCl) to the initial sample. For the
known mixture, there are formation of white precipitate which indicates the presence of Ag+ ion in
the mixture solution. However, in unknown 1 mixture, there are no formation of white precipitate.
Hence, there are no Ag+ ion presence in the mixture solution.

Next, the second reaction is the formation of sulphide precipitate which is the product of reaction
between Cu²⁺ with H₂S under acidic condition. This formation of sulphide precipitate can be
observed in the known mixture. Hence, indicating the presence of Cu²⁺ ions in the known mixture.
Same goes to the unknown mixture 1, where there is formation of black coloured precipitate, thus,
evidently shows that there are also Cu²⁺ ions in the unknown mixture 1.

Then, the third reaction is the reaction to the supernatant of the mixture upon addition on H₂S in
basic condition. This reaction will lead to the formation of white precipitate which is Zn²⁺ ions that
have reacted with H₂S and Zn(OH)₂ will precipitate out. This reaction occurred in both, known
mixture and unknown mixture 1. This indicates the presence of Zn2+ ions in both of the mixtures.

Next, the fourth reaction occurred due to addition of CO₃ ²¯ into the supernatant from the third
reaction. If cations from Analytical Group IV are present in the mixture, it will react with the
carbonate ion, resulting in the formation of white precipitate. However, the actual ion present
cannot be singularly determined, the precipitate will be used later to identify the type of ion present
more accurately. For Known Mixture, there are formation of white precipitate and same goes to
unknown 1. Hence, both mixtures contain cations from analytical group IV. However, in the
supernatant, it is believed that there are Na+ or K+ ions.

Then, the fifth reaction is the reaction that is required to narrow down the type of ions present in
the past precipitate from the fourth reaction. It is the addition of CrO₄ ²¯ into the dissolved acetic
acid. For the known mixture, there are formation of white precipitate, hence, indicating that there
are Ba²⁺ ions in the known mixture. While for the unknown mixture 1, there is no presence of
precipitate, hence, there are no Ba²⁺ ions in unknown mixture 1.
Furthermore, the sixth reaction is to determine the presence of Ca²⁺ or Mg²⁺ ions in known mixture
and unknown mixture 1. The supernatant was reacted with K₂C₂O₄ and if there are dark brown
precipitate, it is proved that there are Ca²⁺ ions and if there are no precipitate formed, the available
ion inside the mixture is Mg²⁺. There is dark brown precipitate in known mixture, hence, there are
Ca²⁺ ions inside the known mixture. However, in unknown mixture 1, there are no formation of
precipitate, hence, there are no Ca²⁺ ions in unknown mixture 1, but Mg²⁺ ion is present in unknown
mixture 1.

The weakness of the method in this experiment would be the mixture was not mixed thoroughly or
was stirred using a contaminated glass rod, resulting in increase in contaminants which can disrupt
the results. Adding too many precipitating agents also can interfere with the result as it can cause
undesired side reaction. Improper separation and washing of precipitate are also one of the most
common error that might have occurred. Next, heating of solution must never be boiled in the
microcentrifuge tube may react with the substance or melt due to elevated temperature. Hence,
heating must be carried out in the test tube.

CONCLUSION
In the known mixture, there are Ag⁺ ions, Cu²⁺ ions, Zn²⁺ ions, Ba²⁺ ions and also Ca²⁺ ions whereas in
the unknown mixture 1, there are Cu²⁺ ions, Zn²⁺ ions and Mg²⁺ ions.

REFERENCES
1. Greco,T.G,Rickard,L.H and Weiss,G.S.,2002. Experimental in General Chemistry: Principles and
Modern Applications.(8th edition) New Jersey: Prentice Hall.

2. Murov, S. and Stedjee, B., 2004. Experiments and Exercises in Basic Chemistry. (6th Edition) New
Jersey: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.,

3. King,G.B.,Caldwell , W.E and Williams, M.B,1972. Laboratory Experiments in College Chemistry.

(3rd edition) New York: D.Van Nostrand Co.
Name : Nurul Amirah binti Azlan
Partner’s Name : 1. Nur Ain Mashitah binti Mohd Nasir
2. Nur Lyana Sofea binti Ab Rahim
3. Joanna Rata Ak Adrin
4. Nur Maisara binti Zulkifli
Course Code : CHM477
Experiment Number : 2
Title : Qualitative Analysis of Transition
Metal Cations Ag²⁺,Zn²⁺,Cu²⁺
Lecturer’s Name : Mohd Sufri bin Mastuli
INTRODUCTION