Preparation of Sodium Carbonate extract - Identify Sulfates, Nitrites, Nitrates and Phosphates by using the prepared Sodium carbonate solution

Preparation of Sodium Carbonate extract

200mg of the unknown sample, 1g of Na₂CO₃ and 50ml of distilled water was added into a clean dry flask later boiled using a tripod stand. This was done by clamping a funnel above the flask to reduce evaporation.

It was boiled for about 5 minutes.

Afterwards solution was cooled and filtered using a filter paper.

A colorless filtrate was obtained.

Identify Sulfates, Nitrites, Nitrates and Phosphates by using the prepared Sodium carbonate solution

SO₄^2-

Procedure	Observation
5 drops of Na2CO3 extract was acidified with dil. HCl in boiling tube. Acidity was checked with litmus. It was kept in a hot water bath for about 3 minutes and added 3 drops of BaCl2	When the extract was acidified with HCl, it turned into brownish red colour. White colour precipitate was formed.

NO₂^-

Procedure	Observation
1ml of Na2CO3 extract was heated with dil. H2SO4 in boiling tube. The evolved gas was checked with starch.iodide paper.	With H2SO4 the extract turned into reddish brown colour. Brown fume was evolved when heating. It turned the starch-iodide paper into blue colour.

NO₃^-

Procedure	Observation
1ml of Na2CO3 extract was heated with 100mg Sulphamic acid in a boiling tube. Later dil.NaOH was added and heated until the evolution of NH3 is ceased. It was again checked with Devarda’s alloy.	In the presence of Sulphamic acid the solution turned into brownish red. Pungent smelling brownish colour gas was formed and the it continued for awhile in Devarda’s alloy.

PO₄^3-

Procedure	Observation
1ml of Na2CO3 extract, 1ml of dil. HNO3 and 10ml ammonium molybdate was heated gently in a boiling tube.	With HNO3 the extract turned into brownish red colour. Later a yellow colour precipitate was obtained.

What’s the purpose of preparing Na₂CO₃ extract?

It gives an expedient way of bringing all the anions of the sample into solution. Otherwise they might be insoluble and couldn’t carry out the experiment properly. Also it prevents the cation in interfering.

What is the importance of Na₂CO₃ extract to be clear and colourless?

This provides a better setting to observe formations of precipitates, colour changes which take place during the experiment.

Is the Na₂CO₃ extract basic or acidic?

It is slightly basic.