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This lesson covers the chemical tests used to identify anions (negative ions) in compounds, as required by the AQA GCSE Chemistry specification (8.1.2). You need to know how to test for carbonates, halides (chlorides, bromides, and iodides), and sulfates. These tests, combined with the flame tests and NaOH tests for cations, allow you to fully identify an unknown ionic compound.
Anions are negatively charged ions. They are formed when atoms gain electrons. In ionic compounds, the anion is the non-metal part of the compound.
| Term | Definition | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Cation | A positively charged ion (metal) | Na\u207a, Ca\u00b2\u207a, Fe\u00b3\u207a |
| Anion | A negatively charged ion (non-metal) | Cl\u207b, Br\u207b, SO\u2084\u00b2\u207b, CO\u2083\u00b2\u207b |
To fully identify an unknown ionic compound, you test for both the cation (using flame tests or NaOH precipitate tests) and the anion (using the tests in this lesson).
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