SYSTEMATIC ANALYSIS OF SIMPLE SALTS

ANALYSIS OF ACID RADICALS (ANIONS)

No. Experiment Observation Inference
IDENTIFICATION TESTS
1. Test with dil. Hydrochloric acid (HCl): Brisk effervescence of a Presence of carbonate (CO32-)
To a little of the salt taken in a test tube, colourless, odourless which turns
add dil. HCl. lime water milky.
[No characteristic reaction] [Absence of carbonate]
2. Test with dil. Sulphuric acid (H2SO4): A little
Smell of vinegar Presence of acetate (CH3COO-)
of the salt is rubbed with dil. H2SO4 in a
[No characteristic smell] [Absence of acetate]
watch glass and the smell is noted.
3. Test with Conc. H2SO4: A colourless gas fuming in moist
To a little of the salt taken in a test tube, air is evolved. Dense white fumes
add conc. H2SO4. are formed when a glass rod
dipped in ammonium hydroxide Presence of chloride (Cl-)
(NH4OH) is shown at the mouth
of the test tube.
[No characteristic reaction] [Absence of chloride]
4. Paper ball test: A little of the salt is heated Reddish brown vapours are Presence of nitrate (NO3-)
with conc. H2SO4 and a paper ball is added formed.
to it. [No characteristic reaction] [Absence of nitrate]
5. Test with Barium chloride (BaCl2): To a A white precipitate insoluble in Presence of sulphate (SO42-)
little of the salt solution add BaCl2 solution. excess of dil. HCl.
[No precipitate] [Absence of sulphate]
CONFIRMATORY TESTS FOR ANIONS
1. Carbonate (CO32-): To a little of the salt A white precipitate is formed
solution, add BaCl2 solution. which is soluble in dil. HCl with Presence of carbonate confirmed.
the evolution of CO2.
2. Acetate (CH3COO-): To a little of the salt
solution, add a few drops of neutral ferric A reddish brown colouration Presence of acetate confirmed.
chloride (FeCl3).
3. Chloride (Cl-): To a little of the salt solution A white curdy precipitate is
add dil. Nitric acid (HNO3) and silver nitrate formed, which is readily soluble Presence of chloride confirmed.
(AgNO3) solution. in NH4OH
4. Nitrate (NO3-)[ Brown ring test]: To a little
of the salt solution, add freshly prepared
A brown ring is formed at the
Ferrous sulphate (FeSO4) solution and Presence of nitrate confirmed.
junction of the two liquids.
mixed well. A few drops of conc. H2SO4 is
added through the sides of the test tube.
5. Sulphate (SO42-): To a little of the salt A white precipitate is formed Presence of sulphate confirmed.
solution, add Acetic acid and lead acetate which is soluble in ammonium
solution. acetate.
ANALYSIS OF BASIC RADICALS (CATIONS)
1. To a little of the salt solution, add sodium No precipitate. Presence of zero group cation
carbonate (Na2CO3) solution. (NH4+).
[A precipitate is formed] [Absence of zero group]
2. To a little of the salt solution, add dil. HCl White precipitate. Presence of Group I cation (Pb2+).
[No precipitate] [Absence of group I]
3. To a little of the salt solution, add dil. HCl Black precipitate. Presence of Group II cation (Cu2+).
and then pass hydrogen sulphide (H2S) gas. [No precipitate] [Absence of group II]
4. To a little of the salt solution, add
White gelatinous precipitate Presence of Group III cation (Al3+).
ammonium chloride (NH4Cl) and excess of
[No precipitate] [Absence of group III]
ammonium hydroxide (NH4OH) solution.

PREPARED BY ANIL KUMAR K L, APHSS ADICHANALLOOR, KOLLAM 1

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5. To a little of the salt solution add NH4Cl and White precipitate. Presence of Group IV cation (Zn2+)
NH4OH solutions and then pass H2S gas. [No precipitate] [Absence of group IV]
6. To a little of the salt solution add NH4Cl, White precipitate. Presence of Group V cations (Ba2+
NH4OH and ammonium carbonate & Ca2+).
[(NH4)2CO3] solutions. [No precipitate] [Absence of group V]
7. To a little of the salt solution add NH4Cl, White crystalline precipitate. Presence of Group VI cation
NH4OH and disodium hydrogen phosphate (Mg2+)
(Na2HPO4). [No precipitate] [Absence of group VI]
ANALYSIS OF ZERO GROUP (NH4+)
1. A little of the salt is boiled with sodium Colourless pungent smelling gas
hydroxide (NaOH) solution. is evolved. Dense white fumes
are formed when a glass rod Presence of ammonium (NH4+)
dipped in conc. HCl is shown into
it.
2. To a little of the salt solution, add Nessler’s A reddish brown precipitate is Presence of ammonium
reagent. formed. confirmed.
ANALYSIS OF GROUP I (Pb2+)
1. To a little of the salt solution, add A golden yellow precipitate is
potassium iodide (KI) solution. formed which is soluble in hot
Presence of lead (Pb2+)
water and crystallised as golden
spangles on cooling.
2. To a little of the salt solution add dil. Acetic
acid (CH3COOH) and potassium chromate Yellow precipitate is formed. Presence of lead confirmed.
(K2CrO4) solution.
ANALYSIS OF GROUP III (Al3+)
1. To a little of the salt solution, add NaOH A white gelatinous precipitate
Presence of Aluminium (Al3+)
solution. soluble in excess NaOH.
2. Ash Test: A little of the salt is boiled with 1
mL each of conc. HNO3 and cobalt nitrate Presence of aluminium
Blue tinted ash
[Co(NO3)2] solution. A filter paper dipped in confirmed.
this solution is dried and burnt.
ANALYSIS OF GROUP IV (Zn2+)
1. To a little of the salt solution NaOH is A white ppt is formed which is
Presence of Zinc (Zn2+)
added drop wise. soluble in excess NaOH
2. Ash Test: A little of the salt is boiled with 1
mL each of conc. HNO3 and cobalt nitrate
Green tinted ash Presence of Zinc (Zn2+) confirmed.
[Co(NO3)2] solution. A filter paper dipped in
this solution is dried and burnt.
ANALYSIS OF GROUP V (Ba2+ & Ca2+)
1. To the salt solution dil. Acetic acid Yellow ppt Presence of Barium (Ba2+)
(CH3COOH) and potassium chromate
(K2CrO4) solution are added. [Yellow colouration] [Presence of Calcium (Ca2+)]
2. Flame Test: A little of the salt is made into a Grassy green colouration to the Presence of Ba2+ confirmed.
paste with conc. HCl and shown into a non- flame.
luminous flame. [Brick red colouration] [Presence of Ca2+ confirmed]
ANALYSIS OF GROUP VI (Mg2+)
1. To a little of the salt solution, add a few Lake blue ppt which is soluble in
Presence of Magnesium (Mg2+)
drops of Magneson reagent. excess of NaOH to form a deep
blue solution.
2. Ash Test: A little of the salt is boiled with 1
Presence of Magnesium (Mg2+)
mL each of conc. HNO3 and cobalt nitrate
Pink tinted ash confirmed.
[Co(NO3)2] solution. A filter paper dipped in
this solution is dried and burnt.

PREPARED BY ANIL KUMAR K L, APHSS ADICHANALLOOR, KOLLAM 2

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