FORM 3-4 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (K.C.

SE)
FORM 3-4

CHEMISTRY DEPARTMENT
Test for Cations & Anions
CONCEPT MAPPING- 2024

1. Adding water to a substance in a boiling tube and shake. [Link] water to a substance in a boiling tube; shake then
Observation I Inference rence filter.
The solid dissolves to form a colourless -The solid is a soluble salt Observation Inference
solution -Cu2+, Fe2+, Fe3+ absent
White residue/ solid The solid is Mixture of soluble
The solid dissolves to form a green -The solid is a soluble salt Colourless filtrate and insoluble salt
solution -Cu2+, Fe2+ present
Cu2+, Fe2+, Fe3+ absent
The solid dissolves to form a blue solution -The solid is a soluble salt Green filtrate Cu2+, Fe2+ present
Cu2+ present Blue filtrate Cu2+ present
2. Test for Cations
IONS Mnemonic Reagent Observation Inference Complex ion
Cu2+, Fe2+, Fe3+ (CuFeFe) NaOH & NH3 (aq) -Green Precipitate Fe2+ Present
Dropwise insoluble in excess
until excess -Brown Precipitate Fe3+ Present
insoluble in excess
NaOH excess -Blue Precipitate Cu2+ Present
Insoluble in excess
NH3 (aq excess -Pale Blue Precipitate Cu2+ Present [Cu(NH3 )4 ]2+
soluble in excess to
form a deep blue solution
Zn2+ Al3+ (ZAP & NaOH Excess White Precipitate Zn2+ , Al3+, Pb2+ [Zn(OH)4]2–
and Pb2+ (CaM) soluble in excess Present [Al(OH)4]–
& [Pb (OH)4] 2–
Ca2+ , Mg2+ NaOH Excess White Precipitate Ca2+ , Mg2+
insoluble in excess Present
Mg2+, Al3+, (MAP & Zinc) NH3 (aq White Precipitate Mg2+, Al3+,
Pb2+ and Zn2+ insoluble in excess Pb2+ Present
NH3 (aq White Precipitate Zn2+ Present [Zn(NH3 )4 ]2+
soluble in excess
Ca2+, Pb2+and (CaLeB) Few drops White Precipitate Ca2+, Pb2+, Ba2+
Ba2+ H2SO4/Na2SO4/ Present
K2SO4
Pb2+,Ag+ (LeSi) Few drops White Precipitate Pb2+, Ag+
HCl/KCl/ NaCl Present
Pb2+ Lead Few drops Yellow precipitate Pb2+
KI
K+ , Na+ , 𝑵𝑯+
𝟒 (POSOAM) NaOH No white precipitate Zn2+ Al3+ Pb2+ and Ca2+ ,
Mg2+Absent
K+ , Na+ , 𝑵𝑯+
𝟒,
(POSOAMBaCa) NH3 (aq) No white precipitate Mg2+, Al3+,
Ba2+, Ca2+, Pb2+ and Zn2+absent
FeFe H202 Green precipitate (Fe2+ oxidized to Fe3+)
changes to brown
3. Test for Anions
ORGANIC ANALYSIS- Addition of water
❑ 𝑺𝑶𝟐− 𝟐− 𝟐−
𝟒 , 𝑺𝑶𝟑 , 𝑪𝑶𝟑 (SOSOCO) Observation I Inference rence
❑ 𝑺𝑶𝟐− 𝟐− 𝟐− −
𝟒 , 𝑺𝑶𝟑 , 𝑪𝑶𝟑 , 𝑪𝒍 (SOSOCO &Cl) The solid dissolves to form -Polar organic
❑ 𝑺𝑶𝟐− 𝟐− − −
𝟑 , 𝑪𝑶𝟑 , 𝑯𝑪𝑶𝟑 , (SOCO & 𝑯𝑪𝑶𝟑 )
a colourless solution compound

© 2024, MFA CHEMISTRY DEPARTMENT

 Chemistry Paper 1, 2 & 3

i) Using Barium Nitrate- Ba(NO3)2 and Lead (II) Nitrate - Pb(NO3)2

Procedure Observation Barium Nitrate- Ba(NO3)2 Lead (II) Nitrate - Pb(NO3)2
Add few drops of White precipitate 𝑺𝑶𝟐− 𝟐− 𝟐−
𝟒 , 𝑺𝑶𝟑 , 𝑪𝑶𝟑 𝑺𝑶𝟐− 𝟐− 𝟐−
𝟒 , 𝑺𝑶𝟑 , 𝑪𝑶𝟑 , 𝑪𝒍
−
Ba (NO3)2 / Pb (NO3)2 Present Present
Add few drops of acidified White precipitate 𝑺𝑶𝟐−
𝟒 Present 𝑺𝑶𝟐− −
𝟒 , 𝑪𝒍 Present
Ba (NO3)2 / Pb (NO3)2 No White precipitate 𝑺𝑶𝟐− 𝟐−
𝟑 , 𝑪𝑶𝟑 Present 𝑺𝑶𝟑 , 𝑪𝑶𝟐−
𝟐−
𝟑 Present

Add Ba (NO3)2 / Pb (NO3)2 -White precipitate insoluble 𝑺𝑶𝟐−

𝟒 Present 𝑺𝑶𝟐− −
𝟒 , 𝑪𝒍 Present
Followed by Nitric (V) acid upon addition of HNO3
- No effervescence/ bubbles
-White precipitate soluble 𝑺𝑶𝟐− 𝟐−
𝟑 , 𝑪𝑶𝟑 Present 𝑺𝑶𝟐− 𝟐−
𝟑 , 𝑪𝑶𝟑 Present
upon addition of HNO3
- Effervescence/ bubbles of
a colourless gas
Add Nitric (V) acid followed -No effervescence 𝑺𝑶𝟐−
𝟒 Present 𝑺𝑶𝟐− −
𝟒 , 𝑪𝒍 Present
by -White precipitate
Ba (NO3)2 / Pb (NO3)2 - Effervescence of 𝑺𝑶𝟐− 𝟐−
𝟑 , 𝑪𝑶𝟑 Present 𝑺𝑶𝟐− 𝟐−
𝟑 , 𝑪𝑶𝟑 Present
a colourless gas
-No White precipitate
Add of few drops of Pb (NO3)2 - Yellow precipitate 𝑰− Present
𝟐−
- Black precipitate 𝑺 present

ii. Addition of HCl/ H2SO4/HNO3 only.

ACID REAGENT ONLY OBSERVATION INFERENCE
1. Add few drops of -Effervescence/ bubbles of 𝑺𝑶𝟐− 𝟐− −
𝟑 , 𝑪𝑶𝟑 , 𝑯𝑪𝑶𝟑 Present
HNO3 a colourless gas
-No effervescence 𝑺𝑶𝟐− 𝟐− −
𝟑 , 𝑪𝑶𝟑 , 𝑯𝑪𝑶𝟑 Absent
2 Add few drops of -Effervescence/ bubbles of a colourless gas 𝑺𝑶𝟐− 𝟐− −
𝟑 , 𝑪𝑶𝟑 , 𝑯𝑪𝑶𝟑 present
HCl -No white precipitate
Pb2+,Ag+ Absent
-No effervescence 𝑺𝑶𝟐− 𝟐− −
𝟑 , 𝑪𝑶𝟑 , 𝑯𝑪𝑶𝟑 Absent
- NO White precipitate
Pb2+,Ag+ absent
3 Add few drops of -Effervescence/ bubbles of a colourless gas 𝑺𝑶𝟐− 𝟐− −
𝟑 , 𝑪𝑶𝟑 , 𝑯𝑪𝑶𝟑 present
H2SO4 -No white precipitate
Ca2+, Pb2+, Ba2+Absent
-No effervescence 𝑺𝑶𝟐− 𝟐− −
𝟑 , 𝑪𝑶𝟑 , 𝑯𝑪𝑶𝟑 Absent
- White precipitate
Ca2+, Pb2+, Ba2+ present

iii. Addition of Calcium hypochlorate (Source of chlorine )

OBSERVATION INFERENCE
-A brown solution/ The colourless solution changes to brown 𝑩𝒓− , 𝑰− Present

iv. Addition of acidified Potassium manganate (VII)/ acidified Potassium dichromate (VI)
Inference as per
Observation Organic Analysis Inorganic
❖ Purple Acidified potassium manganate (VII) is 𝑆𝑂32− Present
decolourised/changes to colourless /
(AVOID WRITING DISCOLOURISED X) Present
❖ Purple colour of Acidified potassium manganate 𝑆𝑂32− Absent
(VII) is retained/ persists Absent
✓ Orange colour acidified potassium R- OH Present 𝑆𝑂32− Present
dichromate (VI) changes to green
✓ Orange colour acidified potassium R- OH Absent 𝑆𝑂32− Absent
dichromate (VI) does not change to green

© 2024, MFA CHEMISTRY DEPARTMENT , Prepared By Francis Nzomo 2

 Chemistry Paper 1, 2 & 3

Possible results when a sample salt is heated strongly

Observations Inferences
▪ A colourless, odourless gas that extinguishes a burning splint. ✓ 𝐶𝑂32− present
▪ The gas forms a white precipitate with a glass rod dipped in lime water.
▪ A colourless vapour that condenses on the cooler parts of the test tube ✓ Hydrated salt present.
to form a colourless liquid. ✓ The salt contains water of
▪ The colorless liquid changes anhydrous cobalt (II) chloride paper from crystallization.
blue to pink.
▪ A colourless gas with a choking smell. ✓ 𝑁𝐻4+ Present.
▪ The gas changes moist red litmus blue and the blue litmus paper ✓ Basic gas produced.
remains blue.
▪ Yellow solid when hot which changes white on cooling. ✓ Zn2+ present.
▪ Brown gas produced. ✓ 𝑁𝑂3− present
▪ Orange solid when hot which changes yellow on cooling. ✓ Pb2+
▪ A colourless gas is evolved which relights a glowing splint. ✓ 𝑁𝑂3− , 𝑀𝑛𝑂4− , 𝐶𝑙𝑂3− ,
▪ The gas has no effect on both moist red and blue litmus papers. 𝑂2− may be present.
✓ Neutral substance present
(tied to no effect on litmus
paper/a gas that relights a
glowing splint).
▪ A colourless gas is evolved which changes a filter paper soaked in ✓ 𝑆𝑂32− present.
acidified potassium dichromate (VI) from orange to green.
▪ A gas that changes a moist red litmus paper blue and a moist blue litmus ✓ 𝑁𝐻4+ present.
paper changes red.
▪ A white sublimate forms on the cooler parts of the test tube.
▪ The solid melts, brown gas is evolved, cracking sound produced ✓ 𝑁𝑂3−
and a yellow residue remained. ✓ 𝑃𝑏2+ present.

ORGANIC CHEMISTRY ANALYSIS

© 2024, MFA CHEMISTRY DEPARTMENT , Prepared By Francis Nzomo 3