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Chem Lab - Halides

This experiment aimed to identify the halide ions present in unknown salt solutions A, B and C. Silver nitrate solution was added to each test tube containing the salt solutions. Precipitates formed indicating the presence of iodide in solution A, bromide in solution B, and chloride in solution C. A confirmatory test using ammonia solutions confirmed the identities of the halide ions. The experiment successfully identified the halide ions in each unknown salt solution.

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203 views

Chem Lab - Halides

This experiment aimed to identify the halide ions present in unknown salt solutions A, B and C. Silver nitrate solution was added to each test tube containing the salt solutions. Precipitates formed indicating the presence of iodide in solution A, bromide in solution B, and chloride in solution C. A confirmatory test using ammonia solutions confirmed the identities of the halide ions. The experiment successfully identified the halide ions in each unknown salt solution.

Uploaded by

Emma
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Title: identifying halides in unknown solutions A, B and C

Aim: to determine the types of halides present in three unknown salt


solutions.

Materials: 3 unknown salts (solid) , distilled water, silver nitrate solution,


nitric acid, dilute ammonia solution, concentrated ammonia.

Apparatus: test tube rack, test tubes, dropper

Method:

1. 3 test tubes were labelled respectively as A, B and C.


2. The first unknown salt was added to the test tube A.
3. The second unknown salt was added to the test tube B.
4. The third unknown salt was added to the test tube C.
5. In each test tube, equal amounts of distilled water were added to form a
solution.
6. Equal amounts of dilute nitric acid were then added to each test tube.
7. Equal amounts of silver nitrate solution were added to each test tube.
8. Changes were observed and recorded.
9. Several drops of dilute ammonia solution were then added to each test
tube.
10. Several drops of concentrated ammonia solution were then added
to the test tubes where a precipitate did not redissolve.
11. Changes were observed and recorded.

Diagram:
Results:

Table of results showing the observations made when silver nitrate were
added to the unknown salts in test tubes A, B and C.

TEST TUBE OBSERVATION ION FOUND


A Very pale yellow I-
precipitate
B Very pale cream Br-
precipitate
C White precipitate Cl-

Table of results showing the observations made when dilute and


concentrated ammonia solution were added to test tubes A, B and C for the
confirmatory test.

TEST TUBE OBSERVATION


DILUTE AMMONIA CONCENTRATED
SOLUTION AMMONIA SOLUTION
A - I- ions Yellow Precipitate Yellow Precipitate
remains, it is insoluble remains, it is insoluble
B - Br- ions Cream precipitate Cream precipitate
remains when dilute dissolves and becomes
ammonia is added colourless
C - Cl- ions Precipitate dissolves
and becomes ----------------------------
colourless.

Discussion:

Silver nitrate solution can be used to identify whether a compound


contains chloride, bromide, and iodide ions as a different coloured
precipitate of the different silver halides are formed. A precipitate will only
form if the concentration of the ions in water exceeds a certain value. This
certain value is known as the ‘solubility product.’ The solubility product is
the product of the concentrations of each ion in a saturated solution raised
to the number of moles which shows up in the stoichiometric equation. If
the concentrations of the ions produce a value above the solubility product,
a precipitate can be formed. When the silver nitrate is added to the halide
solutions, silver ions and nitrate ions are produced. The silver ions then
form bonds with the insoluble halide ions, to form a precipitate.

Firstly, nitric acid (HNO3) was added to each test tube in order to remove
unwanted ions that might contaminate the results and subsequently,
giving a confusing precipitate with the silver nitrate. After the silver nitrate
was added to each test tube, A, B and C, coloured precipitates began to
form.

In test tube A, a yellow precipitate formed indicating the presence of iodide


ions. The equation for the reaction is as follows:

Ag+ + I- ---------- AgI( s)

In test tube B, a cream precipitate was formed indicating the presence of


bromide ions. The equation is as follows:

*write equation*

In test tube C, a white precipitate was formed, indicating the presence of


chloride ions. The equation is as follows:

*write equation*

In order to confirm the halide ions found in each salt solution, a second test,
called the confirmatory test was carried out. This test involved adding dilute
ammonia solution to each test tube, and observing the colour changes. The
ammonia combines with silver ions to produce an ion known as
diamminesilver(1) *write compound*

The equation for this reaction is a reversible reaction as shown below:


*write equation*

A solution with silver halide precipitates will contain silver ions, and so the
addition of ammonia will lower this concentration of silver even further. The
more ammonia is added, the more the equilibrium shifts to the right,
producing more diamminesilver, and lowering the concentration of silver
ions. This was seen during the experiment, due to the following results
recorded:

In test tube A which contained iodide ions, the insoluble precipitate remained
the same yellow colour, indicating that it did not dissolve.

In test tube B, which contained the bromide ions, the insoluble cream
precipitate remained the same colour, indicating that it did not dissolve.

In test tube C, which contained chloride ions, the white precipitate changed to
a colourless solution, indicating that it dissolved.

Due to the precipitates in test tubes A and B, remaining the same, and not
being dissolved, concentrated ammonia solution was then added to these test
tubes.

In test tube A, containing the iodide ions, there was still no change when
concentrated ammonia solution was added. It remained a yellow precipitate.
This is because the silver iodide is very insoluble, and so the concentration of
the silver ions will not lower enough for the yellow precipitate to dissolve.

In test tube B, containing the bromide ions, the cream precipitate dissolves to
form a colourless solution.
Sources of Error:

1. Initially, the test tubes were not washed properly, which could have
resulted in inaccurate results.
2. A transcriptional error occurred as the results were incorrectly
recorded in the table of results, however this was quickly corrected.

Precautions:

1. The solid salts were dissolved before the silver nitrate was added, to
ensure the ions were free to move.
2. Test tubes were observed carefully for the formation of precipitates and
colour changes.
3. Test tubes were labelled A, B and C to prevent inaccurate recordings of
results.

Conclusion:

It was found that Test Tube A contained iodide ions, test tube B contained
bromide ions and Test tube C contained chloride ions.

Reflection:

Halides are constituents which forms compounds like halogenoalkanes and


halogenoalkenes , which are used in the production of many substances used
in everyday life.

Halogenoalkanes includes compounds such as hydrofluorocarbons which are


used in cooling and refrigeration.

Halogenoalkenes includes compounds like chloroethene and


tetrafluoroethene. Chloroethene is used to make polychloroethene which is
commonly known as PVC which is used to make pipes. Tetrafluoroethene is
used to make PTFE (polytetraflurorethene) which is often used in the
production of cookware.

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