I have an aqueous solution containing i sulfate ions, what would be a diffinitive test for chloride ions without getting a false postive from the sulfate ions

the addition of Silver Nitrate

http://www.gcsescience.com/f22.htm

"the addition of Silver Nitrate"

 

Hmm, interesting. I didn't know you could use AgNO3 for that sort of testing.

it`s the standard reagent for Chlorine testing in any Lab

"it`s the standard reagent for Chlorine testing in any Lab :)"

 

It is? How well can it detect chlorine from air?

bubble some air through it, and the tiniest little molecules will turn it from Clear to instantly milky

unfortunately, it does the same thing when sulfates are present, which i already know are.

"unfortunately, it does the same thing when sulfates are present, which i already know are. :("

 

It does? Perhaps you could remove the sulfates somehow and then do the silver nitrate test?

how would i do that, as far as ive seen anything that would combine with sulfates, combine with chlorides

Yea we check like every table and we cant find anything(that wont kill us) that we could use..

How about nitric acid?

"unfortunately, it does the same thing when sulfates are present, which i already know are. :("

no, it actually doesn't. the sulfate anion is more appealing to a cation than the nitrate anion

To test for chloride ions add a few drops of nitric acid, then silver nitrate, if u get a white precipitate then chloride ions are present. to test for sulphur ions you would have to add barium chloride.

add barium or a barium salt (not sulfate) to ppt the sulfate. for the chloride add silver nitrate, which will ppt the silver chloride

just a side note, silver nitrate is a good test for all halogens/halides except fluorine/fluoride

"(not sulfate)"

 

Yeah, that's quite obvious. :>

yeah, the bond is crazy strong