A salt was reported to be zinc chloride (ZnCl2). How were the cation and anion determined? ?

The cation and anion of a salt can be determined by looking at the chemical formula of the salt. In the case of zinc chloride (ZnCl2), the cation is zinc (Zn) and the anion is chloride (Cl). This is because in a salt, the cation is a positively charged ion and the anion is a negatively charged ion. In this case, zinc has a 2+ charge and chloride has a 1- charge, so the chemical formula for the salt is ZnCl2.

1. Flame Test:

- If the solid salt was dissolved in water and a flame test was performed, a green flame would indicate the presence of zinc (Zn).

2. Silver Nitrate (AgNO3) Test:

- Adding a solution of AgNO3 to the salt solution would produce a white precipitate of silver chloride (AgCl). This indicates the presence of chloride (Cl) anions.

Reaction:

```
ZnCl2 + 2AgNO3 → Zn(NO3)2 + 2AgCl
```

Additional Considerations:

- Solubility: Zinc chloride is highly soluble in water, so the salt would likely have dissolved completely in water.
- Appearance: Zinc chloride is a white solid that can appear crystalline or granular.
- Toxicity: Zinc chloride is corrosive and toxic, so proper safety precautions should be taken when handling it.