Analysis of Inorganic Substances

Inquiry question: How are the ions present in the environment identified and measured?

Students:
● analyse the need for monitoring the environment
● conduct qualitative investigations – using flame tests, precipitation and complexation reactions as appropriate – to test for the presence in aqueous solution of the following ions:
– cations: barium (Ba2+), calcium (Ca2+), magnesium (Mg2+), lead(II) (Pb2+), silver ion (Ag+), copper(II) (Cu2+), iron(II) (Fe2+), iron(III) (Fe3+)
– anions: chloride (Cl), bromide (Br), iodide (I), hydroxide (OH), acetate (CH3COO), carbonate (CO32), sulfate (SO4
2–), phosphate (PO43–)
● conduct investigations and/or process data involving:
– gravimetric analysis
– precipitation titrations
● conduct investigations and/or process data to determine the concentration of coloured species and/or metal ions in aqueous solution, including but not limited to, the use of:
– colourimetry
– ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometry
– atomic absorption spectroscopy

Extract from Chemistry Stage 6 Syllabus © 2017 NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA)