Identification of Anions

• Carbonate

  • Add dilute acid and test the gas released
  • Produced CO2, turns limewater milky
• Chloride

  • Acidify with dilute nitric acid and add aqueous silver nitrate
  • White precipitate formed
• Bromide

  • Acidify with dilute nitric acid and add aqueous silver nitrate
  • Cream precipitate formed
• Iodide

  • Acidify with dilute nitric acid and add aqueous silver nitrate
  • Yellow precipitate formed
• Nitrate

  • Add aqueous NaOH and aluminium foil, warm gently and test the gas released
  • Gas given off is ammonia, has a pungent smell and turns moist red litmus paper blue
• Sulfate

  • Acidify with dilute nitric acid and add aqueous barium nitrate
  • White precipitate formed
• Sulfite

  • Add dilute acid, warm gently and test the gas released
  • Gas decolourises purple acidified aqueous potassium manganate(VIII) solution