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GCSE Chemistry Revision

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GCSE Chemistry revision

Metal hydroxides

Identification of ions by chemical and spectroscopic means (chemistry only)

AQA 4.8.3.2 Foundation & Higher
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Testing for hydroxide Ions

  • Dilute sodium hydroxide solution is used in tests for some metal ions, which form metal hydroxides that are insoluble. This means that the metal hydroxides appear as precipitates.
  • For example, copper sulfate solution reacts with a few drops of sodium hydroxide solution:
    copper sulfate + sodium hydroxide → sodium sulfate + copper hydroxide
    CuSO4(aq) + 2NaOH(aq) → Na2SO4(aq) + Cu(OH)2(s)
    Copper hydroxide forms a blue precipitate.