Forensics Qualitative Analysis

Esther Sim
The identification of the 15 unknowns is based on a flow chart approach that can be followed as
presented here to separate and identify the unknowns.
NaCl, NaHCO3, Na2CO3, NaC2H3O2, NH4Cl, MgSO4, Ca(NO3)2, H3BO3, CaCO3,
CaSO4, sucrose, cornstarch, glucose, LiCl, KCl
Soluble in Water
NaCl, NaHCO3, Na2CO3, NaC2H3O2,
NH4Cl, MgSO4, Ca(NO3)2, H3BO3,
sucrose, glucose, LiCl, KCl

Insoluble in Water
CaCO3, CaSO4, cornstarch

Testing Solubility:
1. Put 5 ml of distilled water in each tube. Add a SMALL amount of one powder to
each tube. Mix well.
2. When doing this in practice, note if the tube gets warmer or cooler when
dissolving. This could be a great quick indicator of the powder.
a. Bolded = unsure
Exothermic

Endothermic

Na2CO3
NaC2H3O2
LiCl
NaHCO3
H3BO3

NH4Cl
MgSO4
Ca(NO3)2
Sucrose
Glucose
NaCl
KCl

Test for Insoluble Substances

1. CaCO3 bubbles when HCl is added, and produces CO2 gas (ADD HCl directly to
powder)
2. Cornstarch turns dark blue/purple when an iodine solution is added, the other two
turn a brownish color (ADD iodine directly to powder or solution and mix).

3. CaSO4 -- the one left

Test for Soluble Substances
1. Flame test. Use the powder directly.
Use a clean wire loop made out of platinum or nickel-chromium (nichrome) wire,
dip the loop into the powder or solution to be tested, and then place into the hottest
portion of a flame.
To clean the wire, dip the wire into hydrochloric acid. Then rinse with distilled
water. Test the loop by placing it into a gas burner flame. If there is a burst of color, then
you did not clean it sufficiently. If there is no distinct color, then it is ready for use.

If the flame turns magenta, you have LiCl.

If the flame turns green, you have boric acid (H3BO3).
If the flame turns purple, you have KCl.
You may only see this by holding looking through
the cobalt blue glass. Sodium contamination can make this hard to see.
If the flame turns reddish-orange, you have Ca(NO3)2
If the flame turns bright orange/yellow, you have a sodium salt
(NaCl, NaHCO3, Na2CO3, NaC2H3O2)* Go to step 2.
If you dont see a colored flame, you have NH4Cl, glucose, or
sucrose or MgSO4.** Go to step 3.
**It is common to have sodium contamination in
your samples which can make sucrose, fructose, and NH4Cl appear
to be sodium salts

 *Cobalt glass: In flame tests, sodium ions may contaminant a sample and
produce a flame of orange/yellow masking the color of other ions. If a piece of cobalt
blue glass is used, the blue glass will absorb the yellow color, and the other substances
flame can be seen. Use this after any powders with sodium have been flame tested or
after any orange/yellow flame.

2. Distinguishing the sodium salts:

A. Test for CO3 (for Na2CO3 or NaHCO3): Add a few drops of HCl directly to a small sample
of the powder.
If it bubbles, it indicates that you have either Na2CO3 or NaHCO3.
Distinguish between Na2CO3 and NaHCO3 by
testing the pH using pH strips
Na2CO3 dissolved in water has a pH
of about 10
NaHCO3 dissolved in water has a pH
of only about 8.
If it doesnt bubble, move on to B

B. Test for MgSO4, NaCl, or NaC2H3O2.: Add NaOH to your solution.

If a precipitate forms, you have MgSO4.
If not, you have NaCl or NaC2H3O2.
C. Test for NaCl or NaC2H3O2.. Test the pH using litmus paper.
Red blue: basic
Blue red: acidic
No change: neutral
NaC2H3O2 is basic
NaCl is neutral.
3. Distinguish between NH4Cl, glucose, and sucrose.
A. Test for NH4Cl: Add a few drops of NaOH to a portion of the solution and hold wet red
litmus paper over it.
If the paper turns blue, NH3 gas has been released
and you have a positive ID for NH4Cl.
If nothing happens, move on to step B.
B. Test for glucose.
Mix/obtain a 1% glucose solution and pour 3-5 mL into a test tube.
Add a dropper full of Benedicts solution (1 mL) to your solution. Mix and place in
a warm water bath.**
If you have glucose, an orange or red precipitate
(this is very obvious) will form within 5 minutes (usually much faster).
If there is no precipitate, you have sucrose.