CHM 3011

BASIC INORGANIC CHEMISTRY

TITLE : Investigating The Inorganic Qualitative Reaction

 Title of Experiment : Investigating The Inorganic Qualitative Reaction

Purposes

i. To compare the reactivity of metal ions with hydroxide ions and ammonia
ii. To study the influence of acid and base towards metal

Introduction

Inorganic qualitative analysis is the unambiguous identification of cations and

anions, which are present in a given solution. Unique tests for all ions in the possible
presence of all others are virtually impossible to devise. Many tests give similar
results with different cations. However, if a solution is treated to separate ions into
smaller groups, identification is simplified. The most common way to subdivide
cations into smaller groups is by selective precipitation, in which a small group of
cations is precipitated chemically. The precipitate settles out and the solution is
decanted.

In this experiment, identification of cation with strong base and weak base is used
for the study of inorganic qualitative analysis. Generally, metal ionizes to form cation
in solution or compound by reaction with acid to release electrons and the released
electrons are captured by oxidizing agent such as hydrogen ions, nitrate ions,
sulphate ions and then gas is released. Potassium act as the strongest reducer that
can replace all metals in its activity series. Zinc also reacts with acid and base but in a
slow and bit difficult to observe the occurrence of hydrogen gas. In order to prove that
zinc has already dissolved, sulfide ions are added to form white precipitate of zinc
sulfide.

Several metals use alkali solution to react. The ‘semi metal’ existence of the
elements is demonstrated by the alkali reaction. Metalloid is a component with
intermediate properties between those of metals and solid non-metals. Metal oxide
has been found to react with acid and base in some situations. The ones called
amphoteric oxides are considered metal oxides. The elements which have amphoteric
oxides are also able to react in order to create hydrogen gas with alkali and acid. Acid,
by comparison, is a species that can donate protons. Including certain mineral acids,
strong acid donates the entire proton. Acid, meanwhile, also acts as an oxidizing
agent.
Experimental design
Part A
 Use clean and dry test tubes to obtain accurate reaction.
 It is important to clean the metal with sandpapers to remove oxides present on it.
 Make sure to put the metal separately after cleaning them so that we did not
confuse them with other metal.

Part B
 The test tube must be shaken thoroughly after adding acid or alkali to have the
complete reaction.
 Do not touch the test tube directly with bare hands during the heating process to
avoid injury and burn.
 Wear gloves when handling hydrocholoric acid because it is a strong acid.

Observation
Part A
 Mg2+ : The uncoloured precipitate dissolved in excess NaOH and NH3
 Zn2+ : The white precipitate dissolved in excess NaOH and NH3
 Al3+ : The white precipitate dissolved in excess NaOH but did not dissolved in
excess NH3.
 Pb2+ : The white precipitate dissolved in excess NaOH but does not dissolved
in excess NH
 Ca2+ : The precipitate does not dissolved in excess adding of NaOH but
dissolved in excess NH3
 Fe2+ : The green precipitate does not dissolved in excess NaOH and NH3
 Fe3+ : The uncoloured precipitate does not dissolved in excess adding of
NaOH and NH3
 Cu2+ : The white precipitate dissolved and the solutions turn into blue colour in
excess adding of NaOH and NH3
 NH4+ : No precipitate formed. The solutions remain colourless in excess
adding of NaOH and NH3.

Part B
- Hydrochloric acid
 Zn : Bubbles produced vigorously
 Fe : Tiny bubbles produced
 Cu : No reaction occur
 Ca : Gas bubbles produced rapidly
 Mg : Colourless gas formed vigorously
 Sn : Tiny bubbles produced

- Cold nitric acid

 Zn : Gas bubbles produced
 Fe : Tiny bubble produced
 Cu : Colourless solution turns blue and brown gas produced rapidly
 Al :-
 Pb : Gas bubbles produced vigorously
 Ca : -
 Mg : Tiny bubbles produced
 Mn : Gas bubbles produced

- Hot nitric acid

 Zn : Brown gas produced vigorously
 Fe : Colourless solution turns brown
 Cu : Gas bubble produced vigorously
 Al : Tiny bubbles produced
 Pb : More gas bubbles produced rapidly
 Ca : Brown gas produced vigorously
 Mg : Brown gas produced vigorously
 Mn : Brown gas produced rapidly

Part C
 Zn : Does not dissolved and gas bubbles produced
 Pb : Dissolved very slowly and tiny bubbles produced
 Si : Does not dissolved and gas bubbles produced
 Al : Dissolved and colourless gas bubbles produced

Data and Evaluation

Part A
The observation of metals ion and hydroxide ion reaction in ammonia solution:
Metal ion Observation Ionic reaction
 Mg2+ Uncoloured precipitate formed. The Mg2+ + 2OH- → Mg(OH)2
precipitate does not dissolve in excess
adding of NaOH and NH3.

Zn2+ The white precipitate dissolved in excess Zn2+ + 2OH- → Mg(OH)2

NaOH and NH3.
Al3+ The white precipitate dissolved in excess Al3+ + 3OH- → Al(OH)3
adding of NaOH but does not dissolved in
excess NH3.
Pb2+ The white precipitate dissolved in excess Pb2+ + 2OH- → Pb(OH)2
adding of NaOH but does not dissolved in
excess NH3.
Ca2+ The precipitate does not dissolved in excess Ca2+ + 2OH- → Ca(OH)2
adding of NaOH but dissolve in excess NH3.
Fe2+ The green precipitate does not dissolved in Fe2+ + 2OH- → Fe(OH)2
excess adding of NaOH and NH3. The
precipitate turns into brown colour after a
while.
Fe3+ The uncoloured precipitate does not Fe3+ + 3OH- → Fe(OH)3
dissolved in excess adding of NaOH and NH3
and formed brick-red colour solution.
Cu2+ The white precipitate dissolved and the Cu2+ + 2OH- → Cu(OH)2
solutions turn into blue colour in excess
adding of NaOH and NH3.
NH4+ No precipitate formed. The solutions remain NH4+ + OH- → (NH4)OH
colourless in excess adding of NaOH and
NH3. Litmus paper turns blue.

Part B
The Influence of Acid to Metals

Observation
Acid Metal Reaction
Cold Hot

Zn Bubbles produced - Zn + 2HCl → ZnCl2 + H2

vigorously.
Fe Tiny bubbles - Fe + 2HCl → FeCl2 + H2
HCl produced.
Cu No reaction occur. - -
Ca Gas bubbles - Ca + 2HCl → CaCl2 + H2
produced rapidly.
Mg Colourless gas - Mg + 2HCl → MgCl2 + H2
formed vigorously.
Sn Tiny bubbles - Sn + 2HCl → SnCl2 + H2
produced.
Zn Gas bubbles Brown gas 4Zn + 10HNO3→4Zn(NO3)2 +NH4NO3 + 3H2O
produced. produced
vigorously. Zn + 4HNO3→Zn(NO3)2 + 2NO2 + 2H2O
HNO3 Fe Tiny bubble Colourless solution Fe + 4HNO3→Fe(NO3)3 + NO + 2H2O
produced. turns brown.
Cu Colourless Gas bubble Cu + 4HNO3→Cu(NO3)2 + 2NO2 + 2H2O
solution turns produced
blue. Brown gas vigorously. 3Cu + 8HNO3→3Cu(NO3)2 + 2NO + 4H2O
produced rapidly.
Al - Tiny bubbles Al + 2HNO3→Al(NO3)2 + H2
produced.
Pb Gas bubbles More gas bubbles 3Pb + 8HNO3→3Pb(NO3)2 + 2NO + 4H2O
produced produced rapidly.
vigorously.
Ca - Brown gas Ca + 4HNO3→Ca(NO3)2 + 2NO2 + 2H2O
produced
vigorously.
Mg Tiny bubbles Brown gas Mg + 2HNO3 →Mg(NO3)2 + H2
produced. produced
vigorously. Mg + 4HNO3 →Mg(NO3)2 +2NO2 + 2H2O
Mn Gas bubbles Brown gas Mn + 4HNO3→Mn(NO3)2 + 2NO2 + 2H2O
produced. produced rapidly.
Mn + 2HNO3→ Mn(NO3)2 + H2

Part C
The influences of alkali to metals
Metal Observation and reaction of alkali influences
Zn Does not dissolved. Gas bubbles produced.
2NaOH + Zn → Na2ZnO2 + H2
Pb Dissolved very slowly. Tiny bubbles produced.
Pb + 2NaOH → Na2PbO2 + H2
Si Does not dissolved. Gas bubbles produced.
Si + 2NaOH + H2O → Na2SiO3 + 2H2
Al Dissolved and colourless gas bubbles produced.
2Al + 2NaOH + 2H2O → 2NaAlO2 + 3H2

Discussion and Conclusion

In experiment 3, Investigating The Inorganic Qualitative Reaction, there are three

parts of experiments which, in Part A, we observed the reaction between metal ions
and hydroxide ions in ammonia solution. Whereas in Part B and Part C, we observed
the influences of acid and alkali to metal, respectively. Firstly, in Part A, we identified
either the cation dissolved in excess addition of sodium hydroxide or in the excess of
ammonia. Based on the results, the precipitate in zinc (II) ion and copper (II) ion
solutions dissolved in both solution with excess addition of sodium hydroxide and
excess ammonia. Thus, it shown that zinc and copper react readily with strong bases.
While, calcium (II) ion, iron (II) ion and iron (III) ion did not dissolved in any of those
solutions and formed precipitates. As for ammonium ion, it showed no changes hence,
we used litmus paper to observe the ion presented and it resulted in the changes of
red litmus paper to blue, which means the solution is alkaline. Next, in Part B, we
studied the influences of acids to metal. The acids used in this experiment are
hydrochloric acid and nitric acid and also their concentrated form. According to the
results, we obtained that all metals react with dilute hydrochloric acid and produced
gas bubbles which is, hydrogen gas, except for copper metal, it does not react with
dilute hydrochloric acid. This is because copper metal is very non-reactive. Hence,
copper cannot replaced hydrogen ion in hydrochloric acid to form copper (II) chloride.
As for calcium metal, it vigorously react with dilute hydrochloric acid in an instant due
to its high reactivity so it simply replace hydrogen to form calcium (II) chloride and
thus, in the experiment, its metal is corrode which means it is worn off due to the
reaction.. The reaction between nitric acid and metals showed several results.
Aluminum metal did not show any reaction with dilute nitric acid because of the thin
and non-reactive protective layer of aluminium oxide formed on the metallic surface
due to the reaction of aluminium metal with oxygen and air. From all those results, the
brown colour gases observed during the reaction is actually nitrogen dioxide gas that
are reduced by the metals. Next, in Part C, we observed the influence of alkali to
metals. The alkali used in this particular experiment is also sodium hydroxide and the
metals reacted towards it is zinc, lead, silicon and aluminium. All of those metal
reacted with sodium hydroxide producing gas bubbles which is hydrogen gas but only
lead and aluminium that dissolved in the alkali solution.

The cations that form precipitate on the excess adding of sodium hydroxide are
magnesium (II) ion, calcium (II) ion, iron (II) ion and iron (III) ion, which are not
dissolved and formed precipitate. On the other hand, the cations that form precipitate
but dissolved in excess addition of sodium hydroxide are zinc (II) ion, aluminium (III)
ion, lead (II) ion and copper (II) ion. Next, the cations that formed precipitate but
dissolved in excess addition of ammonia are zinc (II) ion and calcium (II) ion. Based
on the results, we obtained that the reactivity of cations towards sodium hydroxide in
increasing order is NH4+ < Cu2+ < Pb2+ < Fe3+ < Fe2+ < Zn2+ < Al3+ < Mg2+ <
Ca2+ , accordingly. Whereas the reactivity of cations towards ammonia solution in
increasing order is

In conclusion, we can identified the reactivity of metal ions and hydroxide ions in
ammonia solution. Most metal ions react with aqueous hydroxide ion to form
precipitates of the metal hydroxides. On the other hand, metal ions may react with
ammonia solution to form either insoluble precipitates or soluble complex ions and if a
precipitate forms, it is the neutral hydroxide. As for the influence of acid and alkali to
the metals, acids react with most metals to form a salt and hydrogen gas but
somehow it does produce other gases such as nitrogen dioxide, based on their anion
of acids. For alkali, all the metals react with alkali solution to yield hydrogen gases.
Above all, every reactions in this experiment react based on their reactivity in the
reactivity series.

References

1. https://www.compoundchem.com/2014/03/19/testing-for-cations-sodium-hydr
oxide-ammonia-precipitates/

2. https://www.researchgate.net/post/What_is_the_reaction_between_aluminum
_oxidized_in_a_NaOH_solution
3. https://brainly.in/question/14557348
4. https://chem.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Introductory_Chemistry/Map%3A_Intr
oductory_Chemistry_(Tro)/14%3A_Acids_and_Bases/14.05%3A_Reactions_
of_Acids_and_Bases#:~:text=Acids%20react%20with%20most%20metals%2
0to%20form%20a%20salt%20and%20hydrogen%20gas.&text=For%20exam
ple%2C%20zinc%20metal%20reacts,zinc%20chloride%20and%20hydrogen
%20gas.