Identification of Gases (Cambridge (CIE) IGCSE Chemistry)

Identification of gases

• Several tests for anions and cations produce gases which then need to be tested

• The gases included in the syllabus are:

  • Ammonia

  • Carbon dioxide

  • Chlorine

  • Hydrogen

  • Oxygen

  • Sulfur dioxide

Test for ammonia

• Ammonia is a gas with a characteristic sharp choking smell that turns damp red litmus paper blue

• Hold the litmus paper near the mouth of the test tube, but be careful to avoid touching the sides of the test tube

• If you are testing for ammonia produced from ammonium ions and sodium hydroxide, avoiding touching the sides to prevent traces of sodium hydroxide from also turning the red litmus paper blue

Testing for ammonia gas

Damp red litmus paper turns blue in the presence of ammonia

Test for carbon dioxide 

• The test for carbon dioxide involves bubbling the gas through an aqueous solution of limewater (calcium hydoxide)

• If the gas is carbon dioxide, the limewater turns cloudy white

Testing for carbon dioxide gas

Limewater turns cloudy white in the presence of carbon dioxide

Test for chlorine gas

• The test for chlorine makes use of litmus paper

• If chlorine gas is present, damp blue litmus paper will turn red and then be bleached white

  • It turns red initially as acids are produced when chlorine comes into contact with water

• Chlorine also has a characteristic sharp, choking smell 

• Chlorine should always be handled in a fume cupboard due to its toxicity

Testing for chlorine gas

Chlorine bleaches damp blue litmus paper white

Test for hydrogen gas

• The test for hydrogen consists of holding a burning splint at the open end of a test tube of gas

• If the gas is hydrogen it burns with a loud “squeaky pop” which is the result of the rapid combustion of hydrogen with oxygen to produce water

• Be sure not to insert the splint right into the tube, just at the mouth, as the gas needs air to burn

Testing for hydrogen gas

A burning splint gives a 'squeaky pop' sound

Test for oxygen

• The test for oxygen consists of placing a glowing splint inside a test tube of gas

• If the gas is oxygen, the splint will relight

Testing for oxygen gas

A glowing splint will relight in the presence of oxygen

Test for sulfur dioxide

• Sulfur dioxide is a gas with a characteristic sharp choking smell

• The test for sulfur dioxide involves bubbling the gas through an acidified solution of potassium manganate(VII) 

• If the gas is sulfur dioxide, the potassium manganate(VII) changes from purple to colourless

  • This is similar to the test for the sulfite ion