10.

3 Reactions of halide ions

AQA Chemistry Method sheet

Reactions of halide ions

Specification references
 3.2.3.1
 3.1.7
 AT d and k
 PS 2.2

Learning objectives
After completing the practical you should be able to:
 carry out and observe the reactions of aqueous solutions containing the
halide ions with acidified silver nitrate solution
 describe the trend in solubility of the silver halides in aqueous ammonia
 carry out and observe the reactions of the solid sodium halides with
concentrated sulfuric acid
 describe and explain the trend in reducing ability of the halide ions
 construct equations for the reactions.

Part 1 Reactions of the halide ions with silver nitrate

Background
The three halide ions, chloride, bromide, and iodide, can be identified using a simple
test tube reaction with acidified silver nitrate.

Safety
 Concentrated Ammonia solution CORROSIVE.
 Wear chemical splash-proof eye protection and nitrile gloves.
 Use a fume cupboard.
 Dilute nitric acid is an IRRITANT, at 0.5 mol dm–3

Equipment and materials

 silver nitrate solution  dilute nitric acid
 dilute ammonia solution  6 test tubes
 concentrated ammonia solution  10 cm3 measuring cylinder
 aqueous potassium chloride  pipette
 aqueous potassium bromide  distilled water
 aqueous potassium iodide  test tube rack
 eye protection (chemical splash-
proof)

Method
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 10.3 Reactions of halide ions
AQA Chemistry Method sheet

1 Add 2 cm3 of each potassium halide solution into 3 separate test tubes. Note:
remember to rinse the measuring cylinder with distilled water before measuring each
different solution.
2 Add a mixture of 2 cm3 of silver nitrate solution and 1 cm3 of dilute nitric acid to
each test tube. Record your observations in the table below.
3 Add dilute ammonia solution drop wise to each test tube in turn until there is no
further change.
4 Repeat steps 1 to 3 but use concentrated ammonia solution in place of dilute
ammonia solution in step 3.

Results
Name and Trend in
Halide ion Observation on Observation on
formula of solubility of
solution adding AgNO3(aq) adding NH3(aq)
precipitate silver halides

Chloride
Cl−(aq)

Bromide
Br−(aq)

Iodide
I−(aq)

Questions
1 From your observations, complete the table to indicate the trend in solubility of
the silver halides. (1 mark)
2 Construct a full equation and an ionic equation for the reaction of each
potassium halide solution with silver nitrate solution. Include state symbols.
a silver nitrate  potassium chloride (2 marks)
b silver nitrate  potasium bromide (2 marks)
c silver nitrate  potassium iodide (2 marks)
3 a State a general ionic equation with state symbols using X−(aq) as the halide
ion. (1 mark)
b Explain how you can use these three reactions to test for the presence of a
halide ion. (2 marks)
c Explain why silver nitrate solution is acidified before it is added to the halide
solutions. (1 mark)
4 When distinguishing between the different halide ions, ammonia solution is often
added after the silver nitrate. Explain why this is done. (3 marks)

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 10.3 Reactions of halide ions
AQA Chemistry Method sheet

Part 2 Reactions of the halide ions with concentrated

sulfuric acid
Background
The three halide ions, chloride, bromide, and iodide, can all act as reducing agents,
when they are oxidised to the corresponding halogen. The trend in reducing ability
can be illustrated by observing how they react with concentrated sulfuric acid.
When sulfuric acid is reduced, different products can be formed depending on the
strength of the reducing agent.
Possible products are:
 sulfur dioxide (SO2) , an acidic gas with a choking smell
 sulfur which is a yellow solid
 hydrogen sulfide (H2S), a gas which smells of bad eggs.

Safety
Concentrated sulfuric acid CORROSIVE

This should be carried out in a fume cupboard using small quantities of chemicals.

Wear chemical splash-proof eye protection and nitrile gloves.

Gases produced are toxic and corrosive.

Equipment and materials

 concentrated sulfuric acid  3 test tubes
 solid sodium chloride  pipette
 solid sodium bromide  distilled water
 solid sodium iodide  test tube rack
 blue litmus paper  eye protection (chemical splash
 balance correct to 2 decimal places proof)
 nitrile gloves

Method (In a fume cupboard)

1 Put 0.30 g of solid sodium chloride in a test tube, and carefully add five drops of
concentrated sulfuric acid. Test the gaseous product with damp blue litmus paper
held at the mouth of the test tube and note the colour of both the vapour and the
contents of the test tube.
2 Repeat the experiment but this time use solid sodium bromide in place of the
sodium chloride.
3 Repeat the experiment a third time using solid sodium iodide in place of sodium
chloride.

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 10.3 Reactions of halide ions
AQA Chemistry Method sheet

Record all your observations in the results table and list the names of the products
formed in each experiment.

Results
Sodium Observations Name of Trend in reducing
halide Gases Contents of test tube products ability of halide ions

Sodium
chloride

Sodium
bromide

Sodium
iodide

Questions
1 a When sodium halides react with concentrated sulfuric acid, a displacement
reaction occurs in which the corresponding hydrogen halide is produced
along with sodium hydrogen sulfate (NaHSO4). Construct an equation for the
reaction between sodium chloride and sulfuric acid. Include state symbols.
(2 marks)
b Which observation tells you that the hydrogen chloride gas has been
produced? (1 mark)
c How do you know that chloride ions have not been oxidised? (1 mark)

2 NaBr and NaI also take part in a redox reaction with concentrated sulfuric acid.
State in terms of oxidation states what is meant by:
a oxidation
b reduction (2 marks)

3 When sodium bromide reacts with concentrated sulfuric acid, bromide ions are
oxidised to bromine, and sulfuric acid is reduced to sulfur dioxide (SO2)
a Which observations tell you that these products are formed? (2 marks)
b Deduce the change in oxidation number of (i) bromine and (ii) sulfur in this
reaction (2 marks)
c Construct half equations for the formation of:
i bromide ions to bromine
ii concentrated sulfuric acid to sulfur dioxide. (2 marks)
d Combine the two half equations to construct an equation for the oxidation of
bromide ions by concentrated sulfuric acid. (2 marks)

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 10.3 Reactions of halide ions
AQA Chemistry Method sheet

4 When sodium iodide reacts with concentrated sulfuric acid, iodide ions are
oxidised to iodine, and sulfuric acid is reduced to hydrogen sulfide, H2S.
a Which observations tell you that these products are formed? (2 marks)
b Deduce the change in oxidation number of (i) iodine and (ii) sulfur in this
reaction (2 marks)
c Construct half equations for the formation of:
i Iodide ions to iodine
ii concentrated sulfuric acid to hydrogen sulfide (2 marks)
d Combine the two half equations to construct an equation for the oxidation of
iodide ions by concentrated sulfuric acid. (2 marks)
e A small amount of yellow solid is produced. Suggest the name of this
product, and deduce the change in oxidation state of the sulfur. (2 marks)

5 What does this series of reactions tell you about the trend in reducing ability of
the halide ions? Explain your answer. (2 marks)

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