Acids are substances that form hydrogen ions, H+(aq), when dissolved in water In acid solutions there are more H+ ions than OH- ions. Bases which are soluble in water are called alkalis e.g. NaOH sodium hydroxide, KOH potassium hydroxide or Ca(OH)2 calcium hydroxide. Bases which are water insoluble include CuO copper(II) oxide, MgO magnesium oxide. After a neutralisation, the salt solutions consist of a mixture of positive and negative ions (and their names are in the salt name!) e.g. sodium chloride (NaCl) is a mixture of Na+ and Cl- ions, calcium chloride (CaCl2) is a mix of Ca2+ and Cl- ions; magnesium nitrate (Mg(NO3)2) is a mix of Mg2+ and NO3- ions, aluminium sulphate (Al2(SO4)3) consists of Al3+ and SO42- ions etc. You can test for chloride ions by adding a few drops of dilute nitric acid followed by a few drops of silver nitrate solution. If chloride ions are present you will see a white precipitate of silver chloride. However, chlorine water itself will contain chloride ions as chlorine in aqueous solution disproportionates to form chloride and chlorate(I) ions. Cl2 + H2O --> Cl- + ClO- + 2H+ Testing for the presence of nitrate via wet chemistry is generally difficult compared with testing for other anions, as almost all nitrates are soluble in water. In contrast, many common ions give insoluble salts, e.g. halides precipitate with silver, and sulfates precipitate with barium. The nitrate anion is an oxidizer, and many tests for the nitrate anion are based on this property. Unfortunately, other oxidants present in the analyte may interfere and give erroneous results. Solution Acids are substances that form hydrogen ions, H+(aq), when dissolved in water In acid solutions there are more H+ ions than OH- ions. Bases which are soluble in water are called alkalis e.g. NaOH sodium hydroxide, KOH potassium hydroxide or Ca(OH)2 calcium hydroxide. Bases which are water insoluble include CuO copper(II) oxide, MgO magnesium oxide. After a neutralisation, the salt solutions consist of a mixture of positive and negative ions (and their names are in the salt name!) e.g. sodium chloride (NaCl) is a mixture of Na+ and Cl- ions, calcium chloride (CaCl2) is a mix of Ca2+ and Cl- ions; magnesium nitrate (Mg(NO3)2) is a mix of Mg2+ and NO3- ions, aluminium sulphate (Al2(SO4)3) consists of Al3+ and SO42- ions etc. You can test for chloride ions by adding a few drops of dilute nitric acid followed by a few drops of silver nitrate solution. If chloride ions are present you will see a white precipitate of silver chloride. However, chlorine water itself will contain chloride ions as chlorine in aqueous solution disproportionates to form chloride and chlorate(I) ions. Cl2 + H2O --> Cl- + ClO- + 2H+ Testing for the presence of nitrate via wet chemistry is generally difficult compared with testing for other anions, as almost all nitrates are soluble in water. In contrast, many common ions give insoluble salts, e.g. halides precipitate with silver, and sulfates .