Test For Anions

Question 1

Test for chloride

Answer 1

Unknown salt with distilled water
Add silver nitrate
If white precipitate forms it’s
Chloride or carbonate.
Treat precipitate with nitric acid
If it remains unchanged salt is a chloride
If carbon dioxide is formed and precipitate disappears the salt is carbonate.

Question 2

Test for bromides and iodides

Answer 2

Add silver
If pale yellow precipitate forms
It’s either bromide or iodide
Use chlorine water and carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)
If the solution is reddish brown then it’s bromide.
If the solution is purple then it’s iodide.

Question 3

Test for a sulphate

Answer 3

Add barium chloride sulphate 
If a white precipitate forms 
It’s either sulphate or carbonate. 
If nitric acid is added 
There will be no reaction for sulphate 
The precipitate will disappear for carbonate.

Question 4

Test for a carbonate

Answer 4

If a dry salt is treated with acid and the production is carbon dioxide it is a positive test for carbonate.

To test for carbon dioxide pass the gas in question through the limewater if it becomes milky it is a test for a positive carbon dioxide.