Ions at GCSE

Salts are made up of two “parts” a positive ion (usually a metal ion) and a negative ion (almost always a non-metal or small cluster of non-metals)

You need to be able to test for the following cations at GCSE:

  • lithium
    Li+
  • sodium
    Na+
  • potassium
    K+
  • barium
    Ba2+
  • Aluminium
    Al3+
  • calcium
    Ca2+
  • Magnesium
    Mg2+
  • Copper(II)
    Cu2+
  • iron(II)
    Fe2+
  • Iron(III)
    Fe3+

and the following anions

  • Carbonates
    CO32-
  • Halide ions
    X–

    • Chloride
      Cl–
    • Bromide
      Br–
    • Iodide
      I–
  • Sulfate ions
    SO42-

You may find useful information in the analytical chemistry section of chemstuff