How is this test carried out?
Sample put in test tube
Few drops of dilute sodium hydroxide solution added
Colour of precipitate for Calcium ions
White
Colour of precipitate for copper ions
Blue
Colour of precipitate for Iron(II) ions
Blue
Colour of precipitate for aluminium ions
White
Colour of iron(III) ions precipitate
Brown
what happens to aluminium hydroxide precipitate when excess dilute sodium hydroxide is added?
The precipitate dissolves - forming a colourless compound - this can be used to distinguish between testing for calcium ions and magnesium ions