Carrying out test tube reactions to identify cations and anions in solution
| Cation/Anion | Reagent | Result |
| Ammonium | NaOH, gently heat, hold damp red litmus over | Production of ammonia gas, litmus turns blue |
| Carbonate | HCl, test gas with calcium hydroxide solution (limewater) | Effervescence, CO2 gas produced, limewater turns cloudy |
| Sulfate | HCl then barium chloride | Production of white precipitate |
| Chloride (aq) | Nitric acid, then silver nitrate
Add dilute ammonia solution |
Production of white precipitate Precipitate dissolves |
| Chloride (solid) | Add concentrated H2SO4 | Production of steamy fumes of HCl
|
| Bromide (aq) | Nitric acid, then silver nitrate
Add concentrated ammonia solution |
Production of cream precipitate Precipitate dissolves |
| Bromide (solid) | Add concentrated H2SO4 | Production of steamy fumes of HBr, and red/brown Br2 |
| Iodide (aq) | Nitric acid, then silver nitrate
Add concentrated ammonia solution |
Production of pale yellow precipitate
No visible change |
| Iodide (solid) | Add concentrated H2SO4 | Production of steamy fumes of HI, H2S (smells of rotten eggs, black solid iodine, and sometimes yellow solid sulfur |