PRELIMINARY TESTING OF SOLIDS IN MINERAL SPAGYRICS

1.- Heat a small quantity of the substance in a test tube

OBSERVATION

INDICATION

Decrepitating

NaCl, Pb(NO3)2, K2SO4, Zinc blended

Carbonization, burnt odor and formation of water

Organic matter, tartrates and other organic acids and salts

Water given off

Water mechanically inclosed, water of hydration and hydroxide

Gases given off:

 

Colorless and odorless:

O- kindles a spark

Chlorates, peroxides, oxides, nitrates

CO- burns with blue flame

Oxalates

CO2- turns limewater turbid

Carbonates, oxalates and organic matter

Colorless with odor:

NH3- turns red litmus blue

Ammonium salts and organic compounds containing nitrogen

SO2- recognized by odor

Sulphur, sulphides, sulphites, sulphates

(CN)2- almonds odor and burns with reddish flame

Cyanides

H2S- recognized by odor

Moist sulphides

Acetone- recognized by odor

Acetates

Colored gases:

NO2- reddish brown; turns starch KI paper blue

Nitrates of heavy metals

Cl,Br, I- recognized by particulars color and odor

Chlorides, bromides and iodides in the presence of oxidizing agents

A sublimate forms:

White

Ammonium salts, HgCl, HgCl2, As2O3,Sb2O3

Yellow

As2S3, HgO (with globules of Hg)

Yellow becoming red when rubbed

HgI2

Reddish brown drops, yellow when cold

S

Black with garlic odor

As

Black with violet vapor

I

Substance changes color:

Becomes black

Cu, Ni, Co, Mn salts

Becomes dark red

Salts of Fe

Black (hot) and red (cold) with metallic globules

Salts of Hg

Dark red (hot), yellow (cold)

PbCrO4

Yellow (hot), white (cold )

ZnO

2.- Put a small quantity of the substance in a test tube, add a little dilute Chlorhidric acid, and heat gently

OBSERVATION

INDICATION

CO2 effervescence, turns limewater turbid

Carbonates

SO2 recognized by odor

Sulphites

SO2 with separation of S

Thiosulphates

H2S recognized by odor and lead acetate

Sulphides

NO2 brown, turns starch KI paper blue

Nitritos

HCN almonds odor

Cyanides

3.- Mix with anhydrous sodium carbonate and heat on charcoal

OBSERVATION

INDICATION

Metallic globule forms without incrustation

 

Yellow

Gold

Red

Cooper

White and malleable

Silver

Metallic globule with incrustation

 

Malleable

Pb, Sn

Brittle

Sb, Bi

Dark and brittle magnetic mass

Fe, Co, Ni

Lixandram


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