Micro-chemical test for hydrogen carbonate (bicarbonate): Difference between revisions
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For more information on the required equipment and materials see the Micro-chemistry article. | For more information on the required equipment and materials see the Micro-chemistry article. | ||
== | == Preliminary remark about the micro-chemical differentiation of carbonates and hydrogen carbonates == | ||
The micro-chemical differentiation of carbonates and hydrogen carbonates is difficult in practice. Therefore it is generally necessary to verify the obtained results by analyzing the salt samples with other methods, such as polarized light microscopy or other analytical procedures. | The micro-chemical differentiation of carbonates and hydrogen carbonates, i.e., bicarbonates, is difficult in practice. Therefore it is generally necessary to verify the obtained results by analyzing the salt samples with other methods, such as polarized light microscopy or other analytical procedures. | ||
== Procedure == | == Procedure == | ||
Revision as of 22:24, 24 November 2017
Author: Christine Bläuer
back to Micro-chemical testing
Micro-chemical test for hydrogen carbonate (HCO3-)
For more information on the required equipment and materials see the Micro-chemistry article.
Preliminary remark about the micro-chemical differentiation of carbonates and hydrogen carbonates
The micro-chemical differentiation of carbonates and hydrogen carbonates, i.e., bicarbonates, is difficult in practice. Therefore it is generally necessary to verify the obtained results by analyzing the salt samples with other methods, such as polarized light microscopy or other analytical procedures.
Procedure
pH value of hydrogen carbonate salts
An aqueous solution of alkali hydrogen carbonate has a pH of around 8.
For mixed salts of alkali carbonates and hydrogen carbonates (e.g., trona (Na3H(CO3)2.2H2O) the pH is around 10.
Hydrogen carbonate test using mineral acids
When adding diluted hydrochloric or nitric acid (2M) to the crystalline salt or its solution, CO2 is released and can be observed as bubbling.
Differentiation between hydrogen carbonate and carbonate using calcium chloride solution
Adding a drop of CaCl2 solution (1% aqueous solution) to a sample solution containing only HCO3- but no CO32- leads to no visible reaction.