7 (a) Qualitative tests are carried out on ionic substances to identify the ions present in the substances - Edexcel - GCSE Chemistry - Question 7 - 2019 - Paper 1
Question 7
7 (a) Qualitative tests are carried out on ionic substances to identify the ions present in the substances.
(i) Explain why the test for a given ion must be unique ... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:7 (a) Qualitative tests are carried out on ionic substances to identify the ions present in the substances - Edexcel - GCSE Chemistry - Question 7 - 2019 - Paper 1
Step 1
Explain why the test for a given ion must be unique to that ion.
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Answer
The test for a given ion must be unique to that ion to ensure specificity in identifying the presence of that ion without interference from other ions. If a test is not unique, it may produce a false positive result due to the presence of similar ions or compounds, which could lead to incorrect conclusions.
Step 2
State the name of the gas produced in the test if carbonate ions are present.
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Answer
Carbon dioxide.
Step 3
Draw one straight line from the test for each ion to the observation that shows that ion to be present.
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test for chloride ion: → white precipitate
test for iodide ion: → yellow precipitate
test for sulfate ion: → red precipitate
Step 4
Describe tests to show the presence of each of these metal ions.
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Sodium ion (Na⁺): Dissolve the sample in water and perform a flame test. A golden yellow flame indicates the presence of sodium.
Potassium ion (K⁺): Dissolve the sample in water and perform a flame test. A lilac or light purple flame indicates the presence of potassium.
Calcium ion (Ca²⁺): Dissolve the sample in water and add a few drops of dilute sodium hydroxide. A white precipitate forms, indicating the presence of calcium.
Aluminum ion (Al³⁺): Dissolve the sample in water and add a few drops of dilute sodium hydroxide. A white precipitate forms, which dissolves upon adding excess sodium hydroxide, indicating the presence of aluminum.