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Reactions of metal ions in aqueous solution
Chemistry A-level (7405)
This resource (v1.4) represents colours of solutions and products (Specification reference 3.2.6 Reactions of ions in aqueous
solution). Students are expected to describe:
Metal
Aqueous ion
Action of NaOH
Action of an
excess of
NaOH(aq)
Action of NH3(aq)
Action of an excess
of NH3(aq)
Action of
Na2CO3(aq)
Iron(II)
[Fe(H2O)6]2+(aq)
green solution
Fe(H2O)4(OH)2(s)
green ppt goes
brown on standing in
air
No further change
Fe(H2O)4(OH)2(s)
green ppt goes brown
on standing in air
No further change
FeCO3(s)
green ppt
Copper(II)
[Cu(H2O)6]2+(aq)
blue solution
Cu(H2O)4(OH)2(s)
blue ppt
No further change
Cu(H2O)4(OH)2(s)
blue ppt
[Cu(H2O)2(NH3)4]2+(aq)
deep blue solution
CuCO3(s)
blue-green ppt
Iron(III)
[Fe(H2O)6]3+(aq)
purple solution
may look yellow-
brown due to some
[Fe(H2O)5(OH)]2+(aq)
Fe(H2O)3(OH)3(s)
brown ppt
(ppt may look
orange-brown)
No further change
Fe(H2O)3(OH)3(s)
brown ppt
(ppt may look orange-
brown)
No further change
Fe(H2O)3(OH)3(s)
brown ppt
(ppt may look
orange-brown)
and CO2 gas evolved
Aluminium(III)
[Al(H2O)6]3+(aq)
colourless solution
Al(H2O)3(OH)3(s)
white ppt
[Al(OH)4]–(aq)
colourless solution
Al(H2O)3(OH)3(s)
white ppt
No further change
Al(H2O)3(OH)3(s)
white ppt
and CO2 gas evolved
