EXERCISE: IDENTIFICATION OF IONS AND GASES

Instructions
This paper has two sections; Section A, Section B and Section C.
Answer all questions.

In Section A, each question has four possible answers A, B, C and D. Choose

one that you consider to be correct. Each correct answer is awarded 1 mark.

In Section B and C the marks of each question are given in the square
brackets [].

Section A

1. A student mixed together aqueous solutions of X and Y. A white

precipitate was formed.

Which could not be solutions of Y and Z?

Solution Y Solution Z
A. Hydrochloric acid Silver nitrate
B. sulphuric acid barium nitrate
C. Sodium chloride Lead (II) nitrate
D. Sodium chloride Sodium nitrate

2. A sample of tap water gave a white precipitate with acidified silver

nitrate.

What does this show about the tap water?

A. It contained chloride ions.

B. It contained harmful microbes.
C. It contained nitrates.
D. It had not been filtered.

3. Which statement shows that (Fe) is a transition metal?

A. Iron (II) sulphate crystals are green
 B. Iron (III) oxide is basic
C. Iron rusts in moist air
D. Iron reacts with HCl(aq)

4. Which ion reacts with aqueous ammonia to give a precipitate that

dissolves in excess ammonia?

A. Al 3+ (aq)
B. Fe2+ (aq)
C. Fe3+ (aq)
D. Zn2+(aq)

5. An excess of NaOH (aq) is added to an aqueous solution of a salt X and

boiled NH3 (g) is only given off after aluminium foil is added to the hot
solution. What could be X?
A. NH4Cl
B. NH4NO3
C. NaCl
D. NaNO3

6. The formulae of some oxides are shown below:

Na2O MgO Al2O3 SO2 CO2

Which entry in the table gives the correct number of each type of
oxide?

Number of each type of oxide

Acidic Amphoteric Basic

A. 1 2 2
B. 2 0 3
C. 1 1 3
D. 2 1 2

7. The ionic equation for a reaction is shown below:

Ba2+ (aq) + SO4 2 (aq) BaSO4(s)
This reaction takes place readily when
A. Ba(NO3)2 (aq) is added to Na2SO4((aq)
B. Molten BaSO4 is cooled until it solidifies
C. Solid BaCl2(s) is added to H2SO4(aq)
 D. BaSO4(s) is heated until it melts

8. After acidification with HNO3 (aq), a colourless solution of X reacts with

AgNO3 (aq) to give a white precipitate.
What could be X?

A.CaI2
B.CuCl2
C.PbI2
[Link]

9. In separate experiments, an excess of NaOH (aq) or NH 3 (aq) was

gradually added to a solution X.
In both experiments, a precipitate was obtained which dissolved in an
excess of the added reagent.
What could X contain?

A. Cu(NO3)2 (aq)
B. Fe(NO3)2(aq)
C. Fe(NO3)3 (aq)
D. Zn(NO3)2 (aq)

10. An excess of dilute H2SO4 reacts with both Ba(OH)2(aq) and BaCl2(aq).
In what way are the two reactions the same?
A. A gas is produced
B. An insoluble salt is precipitated
C. The final pH is 7
D. Water is produced

11. A salt is dissolved in water. The results of two separate tests on it are
shown in the table.

Test Result
1. Add aqueous ammonia A white precipitate which dissolves
in excess ammonia is produced.

2. Add HNO3(aq) then A white precipitate

Ba(NO3)2(aq)

What is the salt?

 A. Aluminium chloride
B. Aluminium sulphate
C. Zinc chloride
D. Zinc sulphate

12. Which pair of substances produce a precipitate when their aqueous

solutions are mixed?
A. Sodium chloride and barium nitrate.
B. Sodium nitrate and barium chloride.
C. Sodium nitrate and silver nitrate.
D. Sodium sulphate and barium chloride.

13. The results of tests carried out on compound X are shown below:

Test Result
Dilute hydrochloric acid added Gas given off which turned
limewater cloudy

Warm with aqueous NaOH(aq) Gas evolved which turns red litmus
paper blue

What is compound X?

A. Ammonium carbonate.
B. Ammonium nitrate.
C. Calcium carbonate.
D. Calcium nitrate.

14. Two tests are carried out on a solution of compound X?

Test Result
Add dilute HNO3, followed by White precipitate formed
AgNO3(aq)

Excess NaOH(aq) added White precipitate formed that does

not re-dissolve

What is compound X?

A. Aluminium chloride
 B. Aluminium sulphate
C. Calcium chloride
D. Calcium sulphate
E.
15. Which type of compound will liberate NH 3 (g) when heated with
(NH4)2SO4?

A. An acid
B. An alkali
C. A reducing agent
D. A salt

16. The oxide Q dissolves in water to form a colourless solution .This solution
reacts with Na2CO3 (aq) to produce CO2 (g).

What is Q?

A. CuO
B. Na2O
C. SO2
D. ZnO

17. Solution of X has a pH of 12. It is added to NH 4Cl (aq) and the mixture is
heated. Which information is correct?

Solution X is When the mixture is heated

A. Acidic Ammonia gas is given off
B. Acidic No gas is given off
C. Alkaline Ammonia gas is given off
D. Alkaline No gas is given off

18. Which of the following cations is not metallic?

A. Al3+
B. Cr3+
C.NH4+
D.K+
19. Which cation forms a precipitate with NaOH solution and is soluble in
excess of the NaOH solution?
A. Fe2+
B. Fe3+
 C. Zn2+
D. Cu2+

20. Which ion will produce a dirty green precipitate with aqueous sodium
hydroxide?
A. Al3+
B. Fe2+
C. Fe3+
D. Cu2+

21. Aqueous silver nitrate is added to an aqueous mixture of nitric acid and
potassium bromide.
What change is observed?
A. A white precipitate
B. A yellow precipitate
C. A yellow solution
D. A colourless solution

22. The table shows the composition of solutions M and N.

M N
Barium nitrate plus Potassium chloride plus
Barium chloride Sodium sulphate
Solution M is mixed with solution N and a white precipitate is formed.

What is the white precipitate?

A. BaCO3
B. K2CO3
C. BaSO4
D. NaCl

22. An ammonium salt was added to excess hot aqueous sodium hydroxide.
Ammonia gas was evolved. When no more ammonia was evolved,
aluminium powder was added to the remaining solution and more
ammonia was given off.

What was the ammonium salt?

A. NH4Cl
B. NH4NO3
C. (NH4)2CO3
D. (NH4)2SO4
SECTION B

1. Choose from the following formulae to answer the questions below.

AgI, C3H6, CH4, CuCl2, MnO2, KI, C6H6, K2Cr2O7, ZnSO4, V2O5

Each formula can be used once, more than once, or not at all.
Which is the formula of a
a. Compound that is used as a catalyst in the Contact process? [1]
Answer: V2O5

b. Compound that in aqueous solution reacts with aqueous sodium

hydroxide to give a white precipitate soluble in excess sodium
hydroxide? [1]
Answer: ZnSO4

c. Compound that is an insoluble salt? [1]

Answer: AgI

d. Compound that in aqueous will react with aqueous barium chloride to

give a white precipitate? [1]
Answer: ZnSO4

2. A precipitate may be formed when two aqueous solutions are mixed.

Complete the following table.
Solutions mixed Formula of Colour of
together precipitate formed precipitate formed
Copper(ii) sulphate and
sodium hydroxide
Sodium chloride and
silver nitrate
Potassium iodide and
lead(ii) nitrate
Dilute sulphuric acid and
barium chloride

Answer:

Solutions Formula of Colour of precipitate

mixed together precipitate formed formed
 Copper(II) Cu(OH)2 Blue
sulphate and
sodium
hydroxide
Sodium AgCl White
chloride and
silver nitrate
Potassium PbI2 Yellow
iodide and
lead(II) nitrate
Dilute BaSO4 White
sulphuric acid
and barium
chloride

3. A class carried out tests described in the following table on solid B to

identify ions present. Solid B contained one anion and one cation.
Complete the table by filling in the missing deductions.
TEST OBSERVATION DEDUCTION
a. The appearance of B was B was a white solid. [1]
noted
b. Water was added to B B dissolved in
water.
c. The solution of B was
divided into two portions
d. To the first portion, A gas was produced _______ present
Sodium hydroxide was that turned red [1]
added and the resulting litmus paper blue.
solution was warmed
e. To the second portion, A white precipitate _______ present
Silver nitrate was added, was formed. [1]

Followed by aqueous The precipitate ________

ammonia dissolved in confirmation [1]
ammonia.
Answer:
TEST OBSERVATION DEDUCTION
a. The appearance of B was B was a white solid. Non transition
noted salt [1]
b. Water was added to B B dissolved in
water.
c. The solution of B was
divided into two portions
d. To the first portion, A gas was produced NH4+ present[1]
Sodium hydroxide was that turned red
added and the resulting litmus paper blue.
solution was warmed
e. To the second portion, A white precipitate Cl- present [1]
Silver nitrate was added, was formed.

Followed by aqueous The precipitate Cl- confirmation

ammonia dissolved in [1]
ammonia.

(iii) Solid B contained __________ cation and__________ anion.[2]

Answer: Cation NH4+
Anion Cl-

SECTION C

1. P and Q are white powders. P is insoluble in water. Q forms a solution

with a pH of 3. A mixture of P and Q effervesces in water, giving off a
gas. A clear solution forms.
i. One of the white powders is an acid. Which one? [1]
 Answer: Q is an acid

ii. The other powder is a carbonate. Which gas bubbles off in the reaction?

[1]
Answer: CO2

iii. Although P is insoluble in water, a clear solution forms when the

mixture of P and Q is added to water. Explain why. [1]
Answer: CaCO3 (s) + 2HCl (aq)→ CaCl2 (aq) +CO2 (g) + H2O (l)
Insoluble carbonate reacts with acid to form a soluble salt, carbon dioxide
and water.

2. The label on a bottle of mineral water lists the concentration of ions

dissolved in the water in milligrams per litre.

Concentration of ions in milligrams per litre

Calcium 32 nitrate 1
Chloride 5 potassium 0.5
Hydrogen carbonate 133 sodium 4.5
Magnesium 8 sulphate 7

a. State the names of two negative ions which appear in this list. [2]
Answer: Cl-, HCO3- , NO3- , SO42- (any two of these)

b. Which metal ion in this list is present in the highest concentration?

[1]
Answer: calcium
c. Calculate the amount of magnesium ions in 5 litres of this mineral
water. [1]
Answer: 40 milligrams

d. Which ion in the list reacts with aqueous silver nitrate to give a white
precipitate? [1]
Answer: Chloride

e. Which ion in the list gives off ammonia when warmed with aqueous
sodium hydroxide and aluminium powder? [1]
Answer: NO3 -
f. The pH of the mineral water is 7.7.
Which one of the following best describes this pH? [1]
Slightly acidic, slightly alkaline, neutral, very acidic, very
alkaline
Answer: slightly alkaline

3. The table shows the concentration of different ions found in a sample

of aqueous industrial waste.

Ion Concentration in mol/dm3

Ca2+ 0.225
H+ 2.36
K+ 0.233
NO 8.50
Fe2+ 0.500

Use the information in the table to answer the following questions.

a. Write the formula of one salt that could be obtained from the
sample. [1]
Answer: KNO3, Ca(NO3)2 or or Fe(NO3)2

b. Is the sample of aqueous waste acidic, neutral or alkaline? Explain

your answer. [2]
Answer: Acidic, because H ions are present in the mixture, making it
+

acidic.

c. Using the periodic table, calculate the mass of dissolved iron (II)
ions, Fe2+, in 10 dm3 of the aqueous waste.
Mass of iron (II) ions __________g [2]
Answer: Moles of iron (II) ions = 10 x 0.5 = 5
Mass of iron (II) ions = 5 x 56 g =280 g

d. Excess aqueous sodium hydroxide is added, a small volume at a

time, to a sample of the aqueous industrial waste.
Describe and explain what you would observe. [3]
Answer: Green precipitate of iron (II) hydroxide.
White precipitate of calcium hydroxide will be overshadowed by
the green precipitate.
 e. Describe how you would confirm the presence of dissolved nitrate
ions in the sample. [4]
Answer: Add aqueous sodium hydroxide followed by aluminium
foil/powder. Warm carefully. Ammonia gas will be produced. This is
a colourless, pungent gas, which turns red litmus paper blue.
OR

Add excess sodium hydroxide and aluminium to the mixture, and

heat mixture. Ammonia gas, turning red litmus paper blue indicates
the presence of nitrate ions.

4. M is a white powder that dissolves in water to form a solution with a pH

of 3.4.
a. Describe the effect of a solution of M on blue litmus paper. [1]
Answer: Turns blue litmus paper red, showing that M is an acid.

b. When a solution of M is added to solid L, a colourless, odourless

gas is given off. How can you show that this gas is carbon
dioxide? [2]
Answer: The gas turns lime water milky.

c. The solution formed contains calcium ions. How can you show
that the solution contains calcium ions? [3]
Answer: Solution gives white precipitate with sodium hydroxide
which is Insoluble in excess. Solution gives no precipitate with
aqueous ammonia.

d. Identify solid L. Give reasons for your answer. [3]

Answer: Solid L is calcium carbonate. This is because the cation is
Ca2+ and the anion is CO32-.

5. A precipitate may be formed when two aqueous solutions are mixed.

The colour of these precipitates may be used to identify particular
aqueous ions.

Complete the following table.

Ion under test Test for the Colour of precipitate

ion
I-
 Cl-
SO4 2-
Fe2+
Cu2+

Answer:

Ion under test Test for the ion Colour of precipitate

I- Acidify with dilute nitric acid, Yellow precipitate
then add aqueous lead(11)
nitrate
Cl- Acidify with dilute nitric acid, White precipitate
then add aqueous silver
nitrate
SO4 2- Acidify with dilute nitric acid, White precipitate
then add aqueous barium
nitrate
Fe2+ Add aqueous sodium Green precipitate,
hydroxide insoluble in excess;
slowly tends brown in
air
Cu2+ Add aqueous sodium Light blue precipitate,
hydroxide insoluble in excess

6. The diagram bellow shows chemical tests carried out on a salt to

identify the ions present in the salt.
 i. Deduce the cations and anions in the salt. [4]
Answer: Cations - Zn2+ and H+.
Anion - SO42-

ii. Iodide ions were suspected to be present in the salt. Which chemical
reagent is used to test for iodide ion? [2]
Answer: AgNO3