How do you identify a metal by precipitation?

Question

I have a unknown sample of a metal and I have to identify its identity through precipitation. Anyone have any idea how this is done?

Answer 1

Dissolve it in hydrochloric acid to make a solution of its chloride. Then add sodium hydroxide solution, to make a precipitate of the metal hydroxide. You can look up how the behaviour of a lot of metal ions is different if you add NaOH. Sometimes it's the colour, and sometimes changes can occur when you add a lot of NaOH as opposed to a small quantity.