Question

Compound Identification
How can I identify the anion of an unknown solution?

- The possible cations in the solution are Ag, Al, Fe, Mg, Zn (not really important to this part)
- The anions could be either NO<sub>3</sub><sup>-</sup> or Cl<sup>-</sup>

We're given Na<sub>2</sub>CO<sub>3</sub> and NaOH solutions to do the test.

I'm supposed to use a solubility table to help me as well. My main difficulty is what type of reactions will be produced, and how will I use them to identify the compound...
Surely you have done SOMETHING to help you identify the compound. Something such as adding Na2CO3 and NaOH to each of some solution containing the cations. I would identify the cation first.
Knowing the cation, you KNOW (from the solubility tables) that
AgCl is insoluble. Therefore, if you have Cl the cation will not be Ag.
Frankly, I don't think you can identify the anion given ONLY Na2CO3 and NaOH and no other information. If you can, you're a better chemist than I.

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