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Periodicity and Group Chemistry

Test for Sulfate Ions

  • 3 things to know
  • Papers 1 and 3

Overview

Acidified barium chloride, the white precipitate, and why the acid is added first.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

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Process

How is a sulfate ion tested for?

Key term

Why is sulfuric acid not used to acidify the barium chloride solution in the sulfate ion test?

Key term

How can acidified barium chloride solution be used to distinguish magnesium sulfate solution from magnesium chloride solution?

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

  1. 1

    Why is sulfuric acid not used to acidify the barium chloride solution in the sulfate ion test?

    Model answer

    Sulfuric acid contains sulfate ions, which would form a white barium sulfate precipitate and give a false positive result

  2. 2

    How can acidified barium chloride solution be used to distinguish magnesium sulfate solution from magnesium chloride solution?

    Model answer

    Magnesium sulfate solution gives a white precipitate of barium sulfate, whereas magnesium chloride solution gives no precipitate

  3. 3

    What acid is used to acidify the barium chloride solution in the sulfate ion test?

    Model answer

    Dilute hydrochloric acid

  4. 4

    Write the full equation for the reaction between barium chloride solution and sodium sulfate solution.

    Model answer

    BaCl₂(aq) + Na₂SO₄(aq) → BaSO₄(s) + 2NaCl(aq)

  5. 5

    Write the ionic equation for the reaction that occurs when sulfate ions react with barium chloride solution.

    Model answer

    Ba²⁺(aq) + SO₄²⁻(aq) → BaSO₄(s)

  6. 6

    Why is barium chloride specifically chosen as the reagent for testing sulfate ions?

    Model answer

    Barium sulfate is insoluble, so barium ions form a precipitate with sulfate ions that can be observed

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