Particular ions present in a solution of water can be detected by precipitation reactions. In this experiment, silver nitrate is added to solutions containing bromide, chloride and iodide. If silver nitrate solution is added to a sample of water containing halide ions the silver halide is precipitated. This is because the silver halides are all insoluble in water. The test results in a white precipitate of silver chloride, a cream (off-white) precipitate of silver bromide, and a yellow precipitate of silver iodide.