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Chemical Analysis, Organic Chemistry and Materials

Identifying the ions in an unknown salt

  • 3 things to know
  • Paper 2

Overview

The order of tests for an unknown salt, why the wire is cleaned and distilled water used, the sources of error and safety precautions, and naming salts from combined test results.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

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Key term

Why must the flame test wire be cleaned between one unknown salt and the next?

Key term

Why is distilled water used to dissolve an unknown salt before testing it?

Key term

A student adds dilute acid to an unknown solid and sees no change. What can be concluded?

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

  1. 1

    In what order should the tests on an unknown salt be carried out so that both of its ions are identified?

    Model answer

    The flame test and the sodium hydroxide test identify the metal ion first, then the acid, barium chloride and silver nitrate tests identify the negative ion.

  2. 2

    Why must the flame test wire be cleaned between one unknown salt and the next?

    Model answer

    Ions carried over from the previous salt would colour the flame and be mistaken for the ion in the salt being tested.

  3. 3

    Why is distilled water used to dissolve an unknown salt before testing it?

    Model answer

    Tap water contains dissolved ions such as chloride, which would give a positive result that did not come from the salt.

  4. 4

    A student adds dilute acid to an unknown solid and sees no change. What can be concluded?

    Model answer

    The solid contains no carbonate ions, because no carbon dioxide was released.

  5. 5

    Give one source of error when identifying the ions in an unknown salt, and state how it is reduced.

    Model answer

    Apparatus contaminated by an earlier sample gives false observations, so all equipment is rinsed with distilled water before each test.

  6. 6

    Why is only a small amount of the unknown salt used in each test?

    Model answer

    A small amount still gives a clear observation and leaves enough of the salt for the remaining tests.

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