How can halides be tested for?

1 Answer
Jun 27, 2016

By addition of a soluble silver salt; typically AgNO_3(aq)AgNO3(aq).

Explanation:

Ag(NO_3)(aq) + X^(-) rarr AgX(s) darr + NO_3^-Ag(NO3)(aq)+XAgX(s)+NO3

"Silver chloride"Silver chloride forms a curdy, insoluble white precipitate. "Silver bromide"Silver bromide forms a curdy, insoluble cream-coloured precipitate, "Silver iodide"Silver iodide forms a fine yellow precipitate. On standing, the precipitate reduces to metallic silver.

All of the silver halides are quite insoluble, See here for more details.