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CP 15 Analysis of Inorganic and Organic Unknowns

A focused revision guide to Core Practical 15 for Edexcel International A Level Chemistry: identifying transition metal ions with sodium hydroxide and ammonia added dropwise then in excess, the equations behind every precipitate and every complex, the second-year organic tests for phenols, carbonyls, acyl chlorides and amines, and six worked unknowns deduced from their observations.

Exam board: Edexcel International
Unit 6: WCH16/01
Core Practical 15

Identifying Metal Ions with Sodium Hydroxide and Ammonia

Five unknown solutions, two reagents, each added a few drops at a time and then in excess: watch every precipitate form, see which ones dissolve, and read the ions from the grid.

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© Dr. Mohammed Al-Fatah – onlinelearningsystem.net

Before you start

Recap: The AS Tests You Build On

Three quick questions on the anion tests and the ammonium test from the first year, which this practical assumes you can already do.

1

What This Practical Is Testing

Core Practical 15 asks you to identify unknown substances from test-tube observations alone.

It extends Core Practical 8 (analysis of inorganic and organic unknowns): the anion tests are unchanged, but the cations are now transition metal ions and the organic groups are the second-year ones.

The inorganic half. A solution of a transition metal ion is treated with sodium hydroxide and, on a fresh portion, with ammonia, a few drops at a time and then in excess. The precipitate colour, and whether it dissolves in excess, identifies the ion.

The organic half. Phenols, carboxylic acids, carbonyl compounds, alcohols, halogenoalkanes, esters, acyl chlorides, amines, amides and amino acids each have a reagent that gives a visible change. The skill is choosing the tests in an order that rules groups out.

On the Edexcel International course this practical is examined through the Unit 6 practical skills paper (WCH16), which asks for methods, apparatus choices, data processing, uncertainty and evaluation.

Questions give observations and ask for the ion or group, ask for ionic equations with state symbols for the precipitates, or ask why a test is done in a particular order.

Key idea: Two reagents, sodium hydroxide and ammonia, each added dropwise then in excess, distinguish Cr³⁺, Mn²⁺, Fe²⁺, Fe³⁺, Co²⁺, Ni²⁺, Cu²⁺ and Zn²⁺. Record the colour of the precipitate and what happens in excess: both observations carry marks.

2

Safety and Apparatus

Test-tube reactions need small volumes and a clear record. A results grid drawn before you start is the most useful piece of apparatus on the bench.

ItemWhat it is forPrecision or note
Test tubes in a rackOne fresh 2 cm³ portion of the unknown for every reagentabout 2 cm depth; never reuse a tube between reagents
Dropping pipettesAdd reagents a few drops at a time, then in excesscount the drops; wash between reagents
10 cm³ measuring cylinderMeasures about 2 cm³ portions and the water used to dissolve solids±0.1 cm³; precision is not critical here
Water bath or Bunsen burnerWarming for the ammonium test, Tollens’ reagent and dichromate(VI)never heat flammable organic liquids over a flame
Damp red litmus paperDetects ammonia at the mouth of a warmed tubehold it at the mouth; do not dip it into the liquid
Spatula and white tileTransfers solids; the tile shows precipitate colours clearlya pea-sized sample is enough
Results gridRows for each portion, columns for each reagent and observationwrite what you see, not what you expect

Safety: Sodium hydroxide and ammonia (2 mol dm⁻³) are corrosive. Chromium(VI) compounds are toxic and carcinogenic; bromine water is toxic; 2,4-DNPH is kept wet (explosive when dry). Acyl chlorides and concentrated ammonia go in a fume cupboard. Eye protection throughout; treat every unknown as harmful.

3

Method: Step by Step

The inorganic method below is for a solid or solution containing one cation and one anion. Every reagent goes on a fresh portion; a precipitate from one test would hide or confuse the next.

StepWhat you doWhy
AppearanceRecord the colour of the solid and of its solution in about 10 cm³ of distilled water.Many transition metal ions are coloured in solution; the colour is the first clue.
NaOH(aq), a few dropsAdd sodium hydroxide dropwise to a 2 cm³ portion and record the precipitate colour.Hydroxide ions deprotonate the water ligands and the metal hydroxide precipitates.
NaOH(aq), excessAdd about 2 cm³ more and record whether the precipitate dissolves and the colour of any solution.An amphoteric hydroxide (chromium(III) and zinc) dissolves; most others do not.
NH₃(aq), a few dropsAdd ammonia dropwise to a fresh portion and record the precipitate.Ammonia is a weak base and gives the same hydroxide precipitate.
NH₃(aq), excessAdd about 2 cm³ more and record any dissolving and the solution colour.The copper(II), cobalt(II), nickel(II) and zinc precipitates dissolve by ligand exchange; the others stay.
Ammonium checkWarm a fresh portion with sodium hydroxide and hold damp red litmus at the mouth.Ammonium salts release ammonia, which turns the litmus blue.
Anion testsOn fresh portions: dilute acid for carbonate, then acidified BaCl₂(aq), then acidified AgNO₃(aq) and ammonia.The fixed order stops carbonate giving false white precipitates.
ConcludeCombine the cation and anion evidence; name the compound and write its formula.The name and formula together earn the final mark.

The AS version of the hydroxide and ammonia tests: the same technique, a few drops then excess, now applied to the ions on this page.

Technique point: Add the first few drops slowly and look for the precipitate before adding more. If you tip in an excess straight away you cannot tell whether the precipitate formed and then dissolved, or never formed at all.

Check your understanding

Check: Analysing a Green Solid

Put the steps of a complete analysis of a new unknown into a sensible order.

4

Transition metal Ions with Sodium Hydroxide and Ammonia

The table gives the observations for the ions on the Edexcel International course. The hydroxide precipitates have the same colour with either base; the difference is what happens in excess.

The hydroxide and ammonia observations as a tube grid, a few drops then excess, with every colour written. Use the rows for the ions your course names.

IonNaOH(aq): a few drops, then excessNH₃(aq): a few drops, then excess
Cr³⁺grey-green ppt; dissolves in excess to a dark green solution, [Cr(OH)₆]³⁻grey-green ppt; insoluble in excess
Mn²⁺off-white (buff) ppt, darkens to brown in air; insoluble in excessoff-white (buff) ppt, darkens to brown; insoluble in excess
Fe²⁺green ppt, turns brown at the surface on standing; insoluble in excessgreen ppt, turns brown at the surface; insoluble in excess
Fe³⁺red-brown ppt; insoluble in excessred-brown ppt; insoluble in excess
Co²⁺blue ppt, pink on standing or warming; insoluble in excessblue ppt; dissolves in excess to a yellow-brown solution that darkens in air
Ni²⁺green ppt; insoluble in excessgreen ppt; dissolves in excess to a blue-violet solution
Cu²⁺pale blue ppt; insoluble in excesspale blue ppt; dissolves in excess to a deep blue solution, [Cu(NH₃)₄(H₂O)₂]²⁺
Zn²⁺white ppt; dissolves in excess to a colourless solution, [Zn(OH)₄]²⁻white ppt; dissolves in excess to a colourless solution, [Zn(NH₃)₄]²⁺
NH₄⁺no ppt; on warming, ammonia gas turns damp red litmus blueno change

Reading the table. A precipitate that dissolves in excess sodium hydroxide marks an amphoteric hydroxide. A precipitate that dissolves in excess ammonia marks ligand exchange to an ammine complex. Iron(II) and manganese(II) precipitates darken on standing because air oxidises the metal.

Exam wording: “A grey-green precipitate that dissolves in excess sodium hydroxide to a dark green solution shows Cr³⁺. A pale blue precipitate that dissolves in excess ammonia to a deep blue solution shows Cu²⁺.” Name both colours.

Check your understanding

Check: Which Ion Is It?

Match new sets of observations to the ion that causes them.

5

Why the Precipitates Form: the Equations

In water a metal ion is a hexaaqua complex, [M(H₂O)₆]ⁿ⁺. The metal pulls electron density from the O–H bonds of the water ligands, so the complex is a weak acid. A base removes protons until the complex is neutral and precipitates.

[Cu(H₂O)₆]²⁺(aq) + 2OH⁻(aq) → Cu(OH)₂(H₂O)₄(s) + 2H₂O(l)

[Fe(H₂O)₆]³⁺(aq) + 3OH⁻(aq) → Fe(OH)₃(H₂O)₃(s) + 3H₂O(l)

[Fe(H₂O)₆]²⁺(aq) + 2NH₃(aq) → Fe(OH)₂(H₂O)₄(s) + 2NH₄⁺(aq)

Why 3+ ions are more acidic. A 3+ ion has a higher charge density than a 2+ ion of similar size, polarises the water ligands more, and weakens their O–H bonds.

Solutions of Fe³⁺ are noticeably acidic; solutions of Fe²⁺ barely so.

Dissolving in excess sodium hydroxide. An amphoteric hydroxide reacts with more hydroxide ions to give a soluble anionic complex.

Cr(OH)₃(H₂O)₃(s) + 3OH⁻(aq) → [Cr(OH)₆]³⁻(aq) + 3H₂O(l) dark green

Zn(OH)₂(s) + 2OH⁻(aq) → [Zn(OH)₄]²⁻(aq) colourless

Dissolving in excess ammonia. Here ammonia acts as a ligand, not a base: it replaces water ligands and the precipitate dissolves. This is the ligand exchange you carry out on a larger scale in Core Practical 14 (preparing a complex).

Cu(OH)₂(H₂O)₄(s) + 4NH₃(aq) → [Cu(NH₃)₄(H₂O)₂]²⁺(aq) + 2OH⁻(aq) + 2H₂O(l) deep blue

Co(OH)₂(H₂O)₄(s) + 6NH₃(aq) → [Co(NH₃)₆]²⁺(aq) + 2OH⁻(aq) + 4H₂O(l) yellow-brown, darkens in air

Ni(OH)₂(H₂O)₄(s) + 6NH₃(aq) → [Ni(NH₃)₆]²⁺(aq) + 2OH⁻(aq) + 4H₂O(l) blue-violet

Zn(OH)₂(s) + 4NH₃(aq) → [Zn(NH₃)₄]²⁺(aq) + 2OH⁻(aq) colourless

Why the colours. Changing the ligand changes the splitting of the d orbitals, so the frequency of light absorbed changes: water-ligand copper is pale blue, ammonia-ligand copper deep blue. Zn²⁺ has no partly filled d subshell, so every complex is colourless.

Exam wording: “Hydroxide ions act as a base and remove protons from the water ligands; the neutral hydroxide is insoluble. In excess ammonia, ammonia acts as a ligand and replaces water: ligand exchange gives a soluble complex.”

Check your understanding

Check: Why the Precipitates Form

Complete the explanation of the acid–base and ligand-exchange chemistry behind the tests.

6

The Anion Tests: a One-Card Recap

The anion tests are unchanged from Core Practical 8 (analysis of inorganic and organic unknowns); what matters here is their order, because the cation you have just found does not interfere but a missed carbonate would.

The anion test order: dilute acid for carbonate first, then acidified barium chloride for sulfate, then acidified silver nitrate and ammonia for the halides.

1. Carbonate. Dilute nitric acid: fizzing, and the gas turns limewater milky. CO₃²⁻(aq) + 2H⁺(aq) → CO₂(g) + H₂O(l). Done first because carbonate also gives white precipitates with Ba²⁺ and Ag⁺.

2. Sulfate. Acidified barium chloride (or nitrate): a white precipitate. Ba²⁺(aq) + SO₄²⁻(aq) → BaSO₄(s). The acid has already removed any carbonate.

3. Halides. Nitric acid then silver nitrate: white AgCl (dissolves in dilute ammonia), cream AgBr (concentrated ammonia only), yellow AgI (insoluble). Nitric acid, never hydrochloric, which would add chloride.

Nitrate. No precipitate with any of the three; heating the solid gives brown fumes of NO₂ and oxygen relights a glowing splint, as in the thermal decomposition of the s-block nitrates.

Why the order matters: BaCO₃, Ag₂CO₃ and Ag₂SO₄ are all white. Testing for carbonate first, with an acid that destroys it, means a later white precipitate can only be the ion you are testing for.

7

Organic Tests at A Level

The first-year tests for alkenes, alcohols, aldehydes and halogenoalkanes still apply. The second year adds phenols, acyl chlorides, amines, amides and amino acids, and asks you to tell apart groups that look alike.

The A Level organic tests as tiles: reagent, what you see and the group it shows. Test a fresh portion each time.

Reagent and conditionsObservationGroup shown
Bromine water, room temperatureWhite precipitate (2,4,6-tribromophenol); orange colour lostPhenol (an alkene decolourises it with no precipitate)
Sodium hydrogencarbonate solutionFizzing: CO₂Carboxylic acid (a phenol does not fizz)
2,4-DNPH (Brady’s reagent)Orange precipitateAldehyde or ketone
Tollens’ reagent, warmSilver mirrorAldehyde only
Acidified K₂Cr₂O₇, warmOrange to greenPrimary or secondary alcohol, or aldehyde
Warm with NaOH(aq), then acidify, then testSweet smell at first; an oily acid layer separates after hydrolysisEster
A drop of waterSteamy fumes of HCl, vigorous; the solution then gives white AgCl with AgNO₃(aq)Acyl chloride
Reagent and conditionsObservationGroup shown
Warm with NaOH(aq), acidify with HNO₃, add AgNO₃(aq)White, cream or yellow precipitateHalogenoalkane: chloro, bromo or iodo
Damp red litmus; the mouth of a bottle of concentrated HClLitmus blue; white smoke of the ammonium-type salt; fishy smellAmine
A few drops added to Cu²⁺(aq)Deep blue solutionAmine (acts as a ligand, like ammonia)
Warm with NaOH(aq)Ammonia released: damp red litmus blueAmide
Ninhydrin spray, warm (after chromatography)Purple colourAmino acid
Dilute acid and dilute alkali separatelyDissolves in bothAmino acid (amphoteric)

The phenol test in detail. The oxygen lone pair is delocalised into the ring and activates the 2, 4 and 6 positions, so phenol reacts with bromine water in the cold with no catalyst.

Solubility. Phenol is only slightly soluble in cold water but dissolves in sodium hydroxide solution, forming the phenoxide ion; it is too weak an acid to fizz with hydrogencarbonate.

Phenol with three molecules of bromine gives 2,4,6-tribromophenol, the white precipitate, and three molecules of hydrogen bromide.

The first-year organic tests, kept for reference: alkene, alcohol, aldehyde, ketone, carboxylic acid and halide tests with their observations.

Telling look-alikes apart: Phenol and a carboxylic acid: only the acid fizzes with NaHCO₃. Aldehyde and ketone: only the aldehyde gives a silver mirror. Alcohol and halogenoalkane: only the halogenoalkane gives a silver halide after hydrolysis.

Check your understanding

Check: Organic Unknowns

Place new organic compounds in their groups from the tests they pass and fail.

8

Worked Unknowns: J, K and L

Three inorganic unknowns, each a single salt dissolved in water. Read the observations, deduce the ions, and name the compound. Every deduction names the evidence.

The deduction trail for J, K and L: cation from sodium hydroxide and ammonia, anion from the fixed order of tests, then the name and formula.

TestJKL
Solution colourpale greenbluedark green
NaOH(aq), dropwise then excessgreen ppt, insoluble; brown at the surface on standingpale blue ppt, insolublegrey-green ppt; dissolves to a dark green solution
NH₃(aq), dropwise then excessgreen ppt, insolublepale blue ppt; deep blue solution in excessgrey-green ppt, insoluble
Dilute HNO₃no fizzno fizzno fizz
Acidified BaCl₂(aq)white pptno pptno ppt
HNO₃ then AgNO₃(aq)no pptwhite ppt; dissolves in dilute NH₃(aq)no ppt
Heat the solidno visible gasno visible gasbrown fumes

J. Green hydroxide insoluble in both bases, browning in air: Fe²⁺. White precipitate with acidified barium chloride: sulfate. J is iron(II) sulfate, FeSO₄; the air oxidation is Fe(OH)₂ → Fe(OH)₃.

K. Pale blue hydroxide that dissolves in excess ammonia to deep blue [Cu(NH₃)₄(H₂O)₂]²⁺: Cu²⁺. White silver halide soluble in dilute ammonia: chloride. K is copper(II) chloride, CuCl₂.

L. Grey-green precipitate dissolving in excess sodium hydroxide to dark green [Cr(OH)₆]³⁻ but not in ammonia: Cr³⁺. No carbonate, sulfate or halide; brown NO₂ on heating: nitrate. L is chromium(III) nitrate, Cr(NO₃)₃.

Mark scheme habit: Each conclusion is “observation, therefore ion”. “Pale blue precipitate soluble in excess ammonia giving a deep blue solution, so Cu²⁺” scores; “Cu²⁺” on its own may not.

9

Worked Unknowns: M, N and P

Three organic liquids or solids, one functional group each. The same discipline applies: name the test, the observation and the group it proves or rules out.

TestMNP
Appearance and smellwhite crystalline solid, antiseptic smellcolourless liquid, fumes in moist aircolourless liquid, fishy smell
Cold wateronly slightly solublevigorous reaction, steamy fumesdissolves; solution turns damp red litmus blue
NaHCO₃(aq)no fizzthe aqueous product fizzesno fizz
Bromine waterwhite precipitateno changeno change
AgNO₃(aq) on the aqueous mixtureno pptwhite pptno ppt
Concentrated HCl vapourno changeno changewhite smoke
A few drops added to Cu²⁺(aq)no changeno changedeep blue solution

M. White precipitate with bromine water but no fizz with hydrogencarbonate: a phenol, not a carboxylic acid. Only slightly soluble in cold water, dissolves in sodium hydroxide. M is phenol, C₆H₅OH.

N. Fumes in moist air and reacts violently with water, giving HCl (white AgCl) and a carboxylic acid that fizzes with NaHCO₃: an acyl chloride. N is ethanoyl chloride, CH₃COCl. CH₃COCl(l) + H₂O(l) → CH₃COOH(aq) + HCl(g).

P. Fishy, basic to litmus, white smoke with HCl vapour, deep blue with Cu²⁺(aq) because the amine is a ligand like ammonia: a primary amine.

P is propylamine, CH₃CH₂CH₂NH₂. CH₃CH₂CH₂NH₂(l) + HCl(g) → CH₃CH₂CH₂NH₃⁺Cl⁻(s).

Ruling groups out: Record the negative results too. “No orange precipitate with 2,4-DNPH” rules out a carbonyl group and is worth as much as a positive test when the question asks you to justify an identity.

Check your understanding

Check: Four More Unknowns

Work out each new unknown from its observations, then flip the card to check your reasoning.

10

Errors, Uncertainty and Improvements

Qualitative analysis has few measured numbers, so the marks for evaluation go to technique: fresh portions, the right amount of reagent, and honest recording.

Source of errorEffect on the resultImprovement
Excess base added at onceThe precipitate is missed; an amphoteric ion looks like “no reaction”Add dropwise, record the precipitate, then add excess
Reagents added to the same tubeHydroxide already present stops the ammonia complex formingA fresh 2 cm³ portion for every reagent
Precipitate left standing before recordingIron(II) green reads as brown: wrongly called Fe³⁺Record the first colour at once; note any change on standing separately
Dirty or reused test tubesTraces of a previous reagent give false precipitatesRinse with distilled water between tests
Silver nitrate added before acidifyingCarbonate or hydroxide gives a white precipitate read as chlorideAcidify with nitric acid first
Organic tests on wet or warm samplesAcyl chlorides hydrolyse; esters smell changes; Tollens’ silvers earlyDry, cold samples; warm Tollens’ gently in a water bath
Judging colours alone“Blue” and “pale blue” or “green” and “grey-green” confusedCompare against a known solution beside the unknown on a white tile

Where the numbers come in. When you must make the test solution yourself, the uncertainty is in the weighing and the volume. Dissolving 1.25 g of CuSO₄·5H₂O (Mr 249.7, 5.01 × 10⁻³ mol) in a 50 cm³ measuring cylinder gives 0.100 mol dm⁻³.

Step 1: mass by difference on a 2 d.p. balance, two readings at ±0.005 g: ±0.010 g on 1.25 g = (0.010 ÷ 1.25) × 100 = 0.80%

Step 2: 50 cm³ measuring cylinder ±0.5 cm³: (0.5 ÷ 50) × 100 = 1.0%

Answer: total percentage uncertainty in the concentration about 0.80 + 1.0 = 1.8%, which is far smaller than the effect of a missed precipitate

Evaluation wording: “A fresh portion is used for each reagent because hydroxide ions already in the tube would prevent the ammonia complex forming, so the copper test would appear negative.”

11

Common Mistakes

The same slips cost marks every year; each corrected line is a mark earned.

Precipitate only. Writing “blue precipitate” for Cu²⁺ without saying it dissolves in excess ammonia to a deep blue solution: half the evidence.

Wrong role. Saying ammonia “neutralises” the precipitate in excess. It is a ligand replacing water: ligand exchange.

Same tube. Adding ammonia to the tube that already contains sodium hydroxide, then reporting that the copper precipitate did not dissolve.

Brown means Fe³⁺. Calling the aged iron(II) precipitate iron(III). The first colour was green; the brown is air oxidation.

Missing state symbols. Every ionic equation for a precipitate needs (aq) for the ions and (s) for the precipitate.

Phenol fizzes. It does not; only a carboxylic acid releases CO₂ from NaHCO₃. Phenol gives the white precipitate with bromine water.

Hydrochloric acid before silver nitrate. It adds chloride ions and every sample “contains chloride”. Acidify with nitric acid.

Ion, not compound. Stopping at “Fe²⁺ and SO₄²⁻” when the question asks for the compound: write iron(II) sulfate, FeSO₄.

Check your understanding

Check: Avoiding the Common Errors

Pick the correct statement in each round about technique, order and interpretation.

12

Common Exam Points

Say

“Grey-green precipitate, dissolving in excess sodium hydroxide to a dark green solution: Cr³⁺.” “Ammonia is a base here and a ligand in excess: ligand exchange gives the deep blue complex.” “Carbonate is tested first because it also gives white precipitates with Ba²⁺ and Ag⁺.”

Do not say

“The precipitate dissolves because ammonia is a strong base.” “Iron(II) hydroxide is brown.” “Phenol fizzes with sodium hydrogencarbonate.” “Add hydrochloric acid before silver nitrate.” “Fe²⁺ was present” with no observation to justify it.

Watch for

Ionic equations with state symbols for every precipitate and complex; the solution colour as well as the precipitate colour; an unknown decided by one negative result; ligand exchange as in Core Practical 14 (preparing a complex).

FAQs

Short answers to the questions students most often ask about identifying transition metal ions and organic unknowns.

Why do sodium hydroxide and ammonia give the same precipitate?

Both are bases. Each removes protons from the water ligands of the hexaaqua ion until the complex is neutral and precipitates, so the hydroxide that forms, and its colour, is the same whichever base you add.

Why does the copper precipitate dissolve in excess ammonia but not in excess sodium hydroxide?

Ammonia is also a ligand. In excess it replaces water around the copper ion to give the soluble deep blue complex [Cu(NH₃)₄(H₂O)₂]²⁺. Hydroxide ions do not form a soluble complex with copper, so the precipitate stays.

What does “amphoteric” mean for chromium(III) hydroxide?

It dissolves in both acids and alkalis. Acid re-forms the hexaaqua ion; excess sodium hydroxide gives a soluble anionic hydroxo complex. A precipitate that disappears in excess sodium hydroxide is the sign of an amphoteric hydroxide.

Why must I use a fresh portion for every reagent?

Because the first reagent changes the tube. Hydroxide ions left over from the sodium hydroxide test stop the ammonia complex forming, so the copper test looks negative, and a precipitate from one test can hide the colour of the next.

How do I tell a phenol from a carboxylic acid, and an aldehyde from a ketone?

A carboxylic acid fizzes with sodium hydrogencarbonate; a phenol does not, but gives a white precipitate with bromine water. An aldehyde gives a silver mirror with warm Tollens’ reagent; a ketone gives the orange 2,4-DNPH precipitate but no mirror.

Dr. Mohammed Al-Fatah

Written by: Dr. Mohammed Al-Fatah

Chemistry specialist revision notes for International A Level Chemistry.

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Copyright notice: This OLS revision content, including the explanations, layout, diagrams, tables and embedded learning structure, is authored for Online Learning System by Dr. Mohammed Al-Fatah. It may not be copied, reproduced, redistributed or adapted without written permission.