Testing Positive Ions

5 mi
nute
s

Starter Activity
• How do we identify hydrogen by chemical testing?

• Why is being able to identify substances by their reactions useful?

In the real world
• Scientists working in environmental monitoring, industry, medicine
and forensic science need to analyse and identify substances

• We can use a variety of tests for positive ions:

• Precipitation Reactions
• Flame Tests
Flame Tests
• When metals are placed into a flame they change colour.

• Different metals give different colours to the flame, so flame tests can
be used to identify the presence of a particular metal.
 SUPPORT 5 mi
nute
Use WJEC GCSE Chemistry s

Method p.29 to help you

• Put these steps in the correct order for how to do a flame test.
Record flame
colour in table
Dip a nichrome loop and repeat
in Hydrochloric acid cleaning process
to clean and repeat

Put the nichrome

Put the nichrome
loop with metal
loop in a roaring
compound into a
Bunsen flame to
roaring Bunsen
clean
flame

Put the nichrome loop

Dip the nichrome
into a metal
loop back in the acid
compound
 DOING A TEST Different metal compounds produce
different colours when they are put into a
hot flame. The colour of the flame can be
used to identify the metal ion present.
METHOD
A Put the Bunsen burner on the heat resistant mat. Adjust the flame so that the air hole is half
open, producing a light blue flame.
B Clean the flame test loop - Dip the end into the hydrochloric acid, hold it in the flame, then
dip it in a beaker of water.
C Dip the clean loop into one of the test crystals/solutions. Hold it in the edge of the flame.
Observe and record the colour of the flame.
 USE YOUR METHOD WE JUST DID
10 m
inute
s

Results Table
Metal Ion Ion Charge Flame Colour

Lithium

Sodium

Potassium

Calcium

Barium

GOGGLES!! It may spit!

Metal Ion Ion Charge Flame
Colour
Lithium Li+ Crimson
Sodium Na+ Yellow
Potassium K+ Lilac
Calcium Ca2+ Red
Barium Ba2+ Green
Flame Substance Colour of Flame
Tests Lithium ions
(Li +)
Red flame

Sodium ions Yellow flame

(Na+)

Potassium ions Lilac flame

(K+)

Calcium ions Brick-red flame

(Ca2+)

Barium ions Apple-green flame

(Ba2+)
 Different metal compounds produce different
colours when they are put into a hot flame. The
colour of the flame can be used to identify the
metal ion present.
!
is a P R OBLEM!! .
Ther e
ve b ee n damaged
DOING A TEST of 4 chemical jars ha lly sure which
a
The labels echnician is not re ds your help to
The lab t S he nee e
ls are in e ac h j ar.
e ach o n e and writ
chemic a es t
m pounds. T jar.
identify th e co
t sy m b o l on each
c
the corre
METHOD
A Put the Bunsen burner on the heat resistant mat. Adjust the flame so that the air hole is half open, producing a light blue flame.
B Clean the flame test loop - Dip the end into the hydrochloric acid, hold it in the flame, then dip it in a beaker of water.
C If an intense colour was seen when the loop was in the flame, the loop was not clean enough. Repeat step B if necessary.
D Dip the clean loop into one of the test crystals/solutions. Hold it in the edge of the flame. Observe and record the colour of the flame.

The technician is not sure if this chemical is Is this chemical sodium chloride or
JAR 1 calcium sulfate or copper sulfate JAR 2 potassium chloride? Let’s find out.

Ca Na
Cu SO4 Cl
K

What’s this one? The technician is not sure if The technician thinks this one is copper carbonate.
JAR 3 this chemical is potassium or sodium nitrate
JAR 4 Is she correct or is it calcium carbonate?

K Cu
Na NO3 CO3
Ca
 Teacher/technician
notes
DOING A TEST

Place 4 jars with the following chemicals around the lab as a circuit. Write the anion
names on ripped labels, which have the metal name part missing as on the sheet
above. Items at each station:
•A jar filled with the chemical to identify. Has ripped label.
•Folded card (next sheet)
•Spatula
•Flame test wire
•Concentrated hydrochloric acid in small beaker
•Bunsen burner

Jar 1 - Contains calcium chloride. Flame colour = red

Jar 2 - Contains potassium nitrate. Flame colour = lilac
Jar 3 - Contains sodium chloride. Flame colour = bright orange.
Jar 4- Contains copper sulfate. Flame colour = blue-green
JAR 2 JAR 4
JAR 1 JAR 3