Identification Tests Bicarbonate

The test identifies the presence of carbonate, COj ", or bicarbonate, HCOj", in the substance to be examined. Reference to carbonates and bicarbonates is made in less than five monographs, all describing simple inorganic carbonate and bicarbonate salts. The carbonate ion forms insoluble salts with nearly all cations except the alkali metals and ammonia, and the bicarbonate ion, more commonly referred to as hydrogen carbonate, generally has an even lower solubility. Hydrogen carbonate is a weak acid and is unstable in an acidic environment. This characteristic and the insolubility of barium carbonate are used in the identification test. 

Identification A sample gives positive tests for Ammonium and for Bicarbonate, Appendix IIIA. 

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