How can halides be tested for?

1 Answer
Jun 27, 2016

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

Explanation:

Ag(NO3)(aq)+XAgX(s)+NO3

Silver chloride forms a curdy, insoluble white precipitate. Silver bromide forms a curdy, insoluble cream-coloured precipitate, 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.