levo

Qualitative Tests

  • 4 subtopics
  • 12 things to know
  • Unit AS 1

What Qualitative Tests covers

Qualitative Tests is examined in Unit AS 1, Basic Concepts in Physical and Inorganic Chemistry, and drawn on again in Unit AS 3, Basic Practical Chemistry. It covers chemical tests for the gases, flame tests for metal cations, testing for the ammonium ion, sulfate and carbonate and distinguishing the halides, and the starch test for iodine.

Where it is assessed

Unit AS 1

Basic Concepts in Physical and Inorganic Chemistry, and again in Unit AS 3, Basic Practical Chemistry.

Check the CCEA specification ↗

The 4 subtopics

Each one has its own page. CCEA AS Chemistry students sit this topic in the first year.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

Your recallNot started
Key term

Describe the test and the result for hydrogen, oxygen, chlorine and carbon dioxide.

Key term

Why does chlorine both redden and bleach damp litmus paper?

Key term

Why is nichrome wire used to carry out a flame test?

Key term

Describe the test for the ammonium ion in a solid or solution.

Key term

Describe the test used to identify a halide ion in solution.

Key term

Why is concentrated hydrochloric acid used rather than water in a flame test?

Key term

Write the ionic equation for the reaction that occurs when the ammonium ion is tested with sodium hydroxide.

Key term

Why is dilute nitric acid added before the silver nitrate?

Key term

Describe the test for hydrogen gas and the result.

Key term

Which part of the Bunsen flame is used for a flame test, and why?

Key term

Why can the ammonium ion not be identified by a flame test?

Key term

Why is nitric acid used rather than hydrochloric acid in the halide test?

Take Qualitative Tests further

The same content, four other ways.

Questions from this topic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

  1. 1

    Describe the test for hydrogen gas and the result.

    Model answer

    A lighted splint is held at the mouth of the tube and the gas burns with a squeaky pop.

  2. 2

    Describe the test for oxygen gas and the result.

    Model answer

    A glowing splint is held in the gas and it relights.

  3. 3

    Describe the test for chlorine gas and the result.

    Model answer

    Damp blue litmus paper is held in the gas, and it turns red and is then bleached white.

  4. 4

    Why does chlorine both redden and bleach damp litmus paper?

    Model answer

    Chlorine reacts with the water on the paper to give an acidic solution, which reddens the litmus, and the chlorate(I) formed then oxidises the dye and removes the colour.

  5. 5

    Describe the test for carbon dioxide and the result.

    Model answer

    The gas is bubbled through limewater, which turns milky.

  6. 6

    Write the equation for the reaction of carbon dioxide with limewater.

    Model answer

    The equation is Ca(OH)₂(aq) + CO₂(g) → CaCO₃(s) + H₂O(l).

What is inside Levo

Six ways to work the same material.

1Closed book
2Open book
3Closed book

The 3-step method, run for you

Answer cold, learn it, then prove it stuck. Levo tracks the jump between your first attempt and your last.

Formulae, Equations and Amounts of Substance
Atomic Structure
Bonding
Intermolecular Forces and Structure

Cram a whole paper in one sitting

Sort every topic into what you know and what you do not, then drill only the weak ones.

Yellow to .
brownbluegreen

Blank Blitz makes facts automatic

Rapid timed gap-fills on the terms and numbers you need to recall without thinking.

AThe reactants total 159.6 + 84.0 = 243.6.
BThe two moles of iron have a mass of 111.6.
CThe atom economy is 45.8%.

Build It gets the exam shape right

Assemble a full-mark answer from its marking points, in the order an examiner wants them.

There are 1000 cm³ in one dm³.
TrueFalse

Test It catches misconceptions

Spot the fault in a statement. The traps are the mistakes students actually make.

721941163128510

Brain Breaks between sessions

Short focus games to reset attention, so the next set lands better than the last.

Qualitative Tests revision questions

Is Qualitative Tests examined at AS in CCEA Chemistry?
Yes. It sits in Unit AS 1, which you take in the first year, so it is on the AS paper as well as counting towards the full A level.
What does Qualitative Tests cover in CCEA AS-Level Chemistry?
4 subtopics: chemical tests for the gases, flame tests for metal cations, testing for the ammonium ion, sulfate and carbonate and distinguishing the halides, and the starch test for iodine. Each one has its own page with questions and model answers.
How is Qualitative Tests organised?
By the CCEA 1110 specification, subtopic by subtopic, so it matches the order you are taught it in.

Every question in Qualitative Tests, on a schedule.

Attempt a question from memory, write the correct version, then attempt it again. Levo records the jump between your first attempt and your last, and brings each question back on the day you are due to forget it.

Or £46 a year, about £3.83 a month. Cancel anytime.