In analyzing an unknown salt containing one of the following anions: Br^-, Co3^2

Question

In analyzing an unknown salt containing one of the following anions: Br^-, Co3^2-, Cl^-, I^-, NO3^-, NO2^-, PO4^3-, SO4^2-, SO3^2-, why might a student obtain negative results for all three of the following classification reactions?

Classification Reaction 1: Formation of insoluble salts, such as BaCO3, BaSO4, BaSO3, Ba3(PO4)2

Classification Reaction 2: Formation of volatile products when H3O^+ ion is added to such anions as CO3^2-, NO2^-, SO3^2- ions

Classification Reaction 3: Formation of insolube silver salts, such as AgBr, AgCl, AgI

Explanation / Answer

Classification Reaction 1:

If there is not formation of insoluble salts then there is possibility of presence of nitrate ion (NO3-),as salts containing nitrate ions are generally soluble in water

Classification Reaction 2: Formation of volatile products when H3O^+ ion is added to such anions

Due to oxidizing nature of nitrate ions, they interfere with the with the formation of volatile products on addition of acid.

Classification Reaction 3: Nitrate ions form soluble salt with silver and due to oxidizing nature it interfere with the results and give us fake / erroneous results.

Related Questions

Navigate

• Browse (All)
• Browse I
• Subjects

Integrity-first tutoring: explanations and feedback only — we do not complete graded work. Learn more.