This might help...
Solubility rules
SOLUBLE SUBSTANCES INCLUDE: all salts of group 1 elements (in periodic table) metals, all salts formed with the ammonium ion (NH4+), all nitrates and acetates, all chlorides, bromides and iodides except those of silver, lead and mercury, all sulfates except lead, barium, mercury and strontium. Calcium and silver sulfates are only slightly soluble.
INSOLUBLE SUBSTANCES: all carbonates, hydroxides and phosphates except those of group1 elements and ammonium.
TESTS FOR ANIONS:
1) To test for chloride you add silver ions and you get a white ppt. of silver chloride. When you add dilute nitric acid or barium nitrate there is no reaction.
2) To test for carbonate you can:
i. add dilute nitric acid and bubbles of gas evolve (test with limewater to confirm carbon dioxide gas production)
ii. add silver nitrate solution and get a yellow ppt. of silver carbonate.
iii. add barium nitrate and get a white ppt. ob barium carbonate.
3) To test for phosphate you can:
i. add silver nitrate soln and get a yellow ppt. of silver phosphate.
ii. add barium nitrate and get a white ppt of barium phosphate.
iii. if you add nitric acid there is no reaction.
4) To test for sulfate you can:
i. add silver nitrate and there'll be no ppt OR a faint white ppt of sparingly soluble silver sulfate.
ii. add barium nitrate and get a dense white ppt. of barium sulfate.
iii. if you add nitric acid no reaction takes place.
TESTING FOR CATIONS
1) To test for lead you can:
i. add dilute HCl and get white ppt of lead chloride (dissolves on heating)
ii. add dilute sulfuric acid and get a white ppt. of lead sulfate
iii. add dilute sodium hydroxide and get a white ppt. of lead hydroxide.
2) To test for copper you add dilute NaOH and get a blue ppt. of copper hydroxide. No reaction occurs if you add HCl or sulfuric acid.
3) To test for ferrous ion (Fe2+) add dilute NaOH and you get a pale green ppt. of iron (II) hyrdoxide which quickly turns brown. No reaction occurs if you add HCl or sulfuric acid.
4) To test for ferric ions (Fe3+) you add dilute NaOH and get a reddish brown ppt. of iron (III) hydroxide. No reaction occurs if you add HCl or sulfuric acid.
5) To test for calcium ions you can:
i. add dilute sulfuric acid and get a white ppt. of calcium sulfate.
ii. faint white ppt. of sparingly soluble calcium hydroxide.
iii. if you add dilute HCl no reaction occurs.
6) To test for barium ions add dilute sulfuric acid and you get a white ppt. of barium sulfate. No reaction occurs with NaOH or HCl.
Hope that helps! Btw it is just as important to know if a reaction does not occur to when it does because it helps you eliminate options in exams to get to a final answer.