Edexcel GCSE Chemistry 1CH0
Key Concepts in Chemistry
States of Matter and Mixtures
Chemical Changes
Extracting Metals and Equilibria
Transition Metals, Quantitative Chemistry and Industrial Processes
Groups in the Periodic Table
Rates of Reaction and Energy Changes
Fuels and Earth Science
Chemical Analysis, Organic Chemistry and Materials
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.
Why is distilled water used to dissolve an unknown salt before testing it?
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
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
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
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
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
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
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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