Tests for Gases

• Chlorine

  • Bleaches damp litmus paper, turning it white
• Testing for Oxygen


  1. Put a glowing splint inside a test tube containing oxygen

  2. The oxygen will relight the glowing splint
• Testing for Carbon Dioxide


  1. Bubble it through a solution of calcium hydroxide

  2. If the gas is carbon dioxide, the solution will turn cloudy

  3. You can also do this test by shaking the gas with the solution
• Calcium hydroxide solution


  Also called limewater
• Testing for Hydrogen


  1. Hold a lit splint at the open end of a test tube containing hydrogen

  2. You'll get a "squeaky pop"
• Common Gases


  • Chlorine
  • Oxygen
  • Carbon Dioxide
  • Hydrogen
• Chlorine bleaches damp litmus paper, turning it white
• If you put a glowing splint inside a test tube containing oxygen, the oxygen will relight the glowing splint
• If the gas is carbon dioxide, the solution will turn cloudy
• You can also do the carbon dioxide test by shaking the gas with the solution
• If you hold a lit splint at the open end of a test tube containing hydrogen, you'll get a "squeaky pop"