Gas Colour Pungent Acid-basicity Properties Testing

Smell
NH3 Colourless Yes Alkaline Forms dense white fumes with HCl gas Moist red litmus paper turns blue
(HCl(g) + NH3(g) → NH4Cl(s))

O2 Colourless No Neutral Supports combustion Glowing wooden splinter rekindles when put into the
gas container

CO2 Colourless No Acidic ------ Bubble through lime water

- turns cloudy
(CO2(g) + Ca(OH)2(aq) → CaCO3(s) + H2O(l))

H2 Colourless No Neutral Combustible Lighted wooden splinter burns with a ‘pop’ sound
when put on the opening of the gas container

Cl2 Greenish-yellow Yes Acidic Bleaching agent Moist blue litmus paper turns red (test for acid) and
then white (bleaching)

SO2 Colourless Yes Acidic Reducing agent Bubble through

- acidified KMnO4
- purple → colourless (MnO4- → Mn2+)
- acidified K2Cr2O7
- orange → green (Cr2O72- → Cr3+)

HCl Colourless No Acidic - Forms fumes in moist air Bring a glass rod with a drop of concentrated NH3
(HCl(g) → HCl(aq)) solution near the opening of the gas container
- Forms dense white fumes with NH3 gas - dense white fumes are formed
(HCl(g) + NH3(g) → NH4Cl(s))

NO2 Brown Yes Acidic ------ Moist red litmus paper turns blue