d-block inorganic tests

Here we are dealing with d-block metal cations. There will still be the usual anions present that we met in the "AS" course and so you should still be aware of the simple inorganic tests. Most of the d-block elements are transition metals and can be spotted from their coloured compounds.

You should be able to identify reaction types as precipitation, ligand exchange, deprotonation and redox. The following table shows the results of a number of tests on common d-block cations.

Colour is the typical colour of the aqueous solution (it may be affected by the anion present)

NaOH shows the effect of added sodium hydroxide solution

Excess NaOH shows the effect of adding excess sodium hydroxide solution

NH₃ shows the effect of excess ammonia solution

Click on the ion name for more details of the reactions.

Ion	Colour	NaOH	Excess NaOH	NH₃
Chromium(III)
Copper(II)
Ion	Colour	NaOH	Excess NaOH	NH₃
Iron(II)
Iron(III)
Ion	Colour	NaOH	Excess NaOH	NH₃
Manganese(II)
Nickel(II)
Ion	Colour	NaOH	Excess NaOH	NH₃
Zinc