Systematic Analysis of Salts

PRELIMINARY TESTS:
S.No Experiment Observation Inference

1 Noted the colour White Absence of Co2+, Fe2+,

Ni2+ and Cu2+
2. Noted the odour Vinegar odour Presence of CH3COO-
ion.
Ammonical odour
Presence of NH4+ ion
3. Flame test.
A paste of salt with Con.HCl is
brought to the flame using a glass Brick red flame colour Presence of Ca2+ ion.
rod.
Theory Apple green flame colour Presence of Ba2+ ion
Electrons from the valence shell of
these atoms absorb energy and Crimson red flame colour Presence of Sr2+ ion .
exited to the higher energy levels.
These electrons emit the
complimentary radiations in the
visible region and impart the
respective colour to the flame.

4. Ash test Presence of

salt + few drops of conc. HNO3 + Blue ash Al 3+
Cobalt nitrate and boiled. A filter Green ash Zn2+
paper dipped in this boiled mixture Pink ash Mg2+
& burnt to ash.

1
 INDICATORY TESTS FOR ANIONS ACID RADICALS:

1. A little of the salt is treated with i) Effervescence of CO32- may be present.

Dilute H2SO4. Collect the CO2 gas colorless odorless gas
evolved in a test tube and add lime turning lime water milky.
water into it.

(i) Na2CO3 + H2SO4 → Na2SO4 + H2O +CO2(Effervescence)

(ii) CO2 + Ca(OH)2 → Ca CO3 + H2O
White ppt

2. A little of the salt is heated with Evolution of white fumes Cl - may be present.
Conc. H2SO4. Show a glass rod with pungent irritating
dipped in NH4OH on to the mouth smell, becomes a dense
of the test tube. white fumes.

NaCl + H2SO4 → NaHSO4 + HCl ,

HCl +NH4OH → NH4Cl + H2O
Dense white fumes
3. Salt is heated with Conc. H2SO4 & Evolution of brown fumes NO3- may be present.
add a small paper ball

NaNO3+ H2SO4→NaHSO4+ HNO3

4HNO3 + C → CO2 + 4NO2 + 2H2O
Brown fumes
4. A little of the salt is rubbed with Vinegar smell CH3COO- may be
dilute H2SO4 on a watch glass present.
using a glass rod and smell the tip
of the glass rod
(CH3COO)2Pb + H2SO4 → 2CH3COOH + PbSO4
Vinegar smell White ppt
5. Salt solution + Conc. HNO3+ Yellow precipitate PO43- may be present
ammonium molybdate solution +
Heat
Na3 PO4+3(NH4)2MoO4→ 2(NH4)3PO4+3Na2MoO4
Na2MoO4+2HNO3→H2MoO4+ 2NaNO3
H2MoO4→MoO3+ H2O
(NH4)3PO4+12MoO3+6H2O→ (NH4)3PO4.12MoO3.6H2O
Yellow precipitate
6 Salt solution. + Barium Chloride White precipitate insoluble SO42- may be present.
solution in dilute HCl

2
 Na2SO4 + BaCl2→ BaSO4 + 2NaCl
White ppt
BaSO4 + 2HCl→ No reaction

CONFIRMATORY TESTS FOR ANIONS:

For Carbonate:
1. Salt solution + BaCl2 solution and White precipitate soluble in CO32- confirmed.
add dilute HCl dilute HCl with
effervescence.
Na2CO3+BaCl2→BaCO3+2NaCl
White ppt
BaCO3+2HCl→ BaCl2 +CO2 + H2O
For Chloride ion:
2. Salt solution + Silver nitrate Curdy white precipitate Cl- confirmed.
Soluble in NH4OH
NaCl+AgNO3→AgCl+NaNO3
White ppt
AgCl+2NH4OH→[Ag(NH3)2]Cl+ 2H2O
Soluble complex
For Nitrate ion
1. Brown ring test: Brown ring at the junction NO3- confirmed
Salt solution. + Freshly prepared of two liquids
FeSO4 Solution . Add con. H2SO4
Through sides of test tube

NO3- + 3Fe2+ + 4H+ → NO + 3Fe3+ + 2H2O

[Fe(H2O)6]2+ + NO → [Fe(H2O)5NO]2+ + H2O

For Acetate ion:

1. Salt solution + neutral FeCl3 Reddish brown precipitate CH3COO- confirmed
solution
3CH3COONa+FeCl3→ (CH3COO)3Fe+3NaCl
Reddish brown precipitate
For Phosphate ion:
1. Salt solution + Silver Nitrate Yellow precipitate PO43- confirmed
solution
(NH4)3PO4 +3AgNO3 → Ag3(PO4) + 3 NH4NO3
Yellow precipitate
For Sulphate ion:
1. Salt solution + Lead acetate White precipitate soluble in SO42- confirmed
solution hot CH3COONH4
MgSO4 + (CH3COO)2Pb → PbSO4 + (CH3COO)2Mg
PbSO4 + 2 CH3COONH4 → (NH4)2SO4 + (CH3COO)2Pb

3
 Group Group reagent Basic Radicals
0 Na2CO3 solution NH4+
1 Dilute HCl Pb2+ (precipitated as Chloride)
2 Dilute HCl + H2S Cu2+, Cd2+ (precipitated as sulphide)
3 Solid NH4Cl + NH4OH Fe3+, , Al3+ (Precipitated ash
hydroxide)
4 Solid NH4Cl + NH4OH + H2S Ni2+ ,CO2+ , Zn2+ ,Mn2+ (Precipitated
as Sulphide)
5 Solid NH4Cl + NH4OH + Ca2+ ,Sr2+ , Ba2+ (Precipitated as
(NH4 )2 CO3
Carbonates)
6 If all the above groups are Mg2+
absent
NH4Cl+
NH4OH+Na2HPO4(Disodium
hydrogen phosphate)

INDICATORY TESTS FOR CATIONS BASIC RADICALS

GROUP WISE ANALYSIS
1 Salt solution + sodium carbonate solution Clear solution May be the presence
of ammonium salt
(zero group)
2 Salt solution + dilute HCl A white ppt Presence of Gr 1
(Pb2+)
Pb(NO3)2 + 2HCl→PbCl2 (White ppt)+2HNO3
3 Salt solution + dilute HCl + H2S Presence of Gr 2
Black precipitate Cu2+ present
Yellow precipitate Cd2+ present

CuSO4+H2S→CuS+H2SO4
Black
CdCl2+H2S→CdS+2HCl
Yellow
4. Salt solution + solid NH4Cl + NH4OH(till Presence of Gr3
alkaline) (i)White gelatinous Al3+ Present
precipitate
(ii)Reddish Brown Fe3+ Presenct
precipitate
AlCl3+3NH4OH→Al(OH)3+3NH4Cl
4
 White gelatinous ppt
FeCl3+3NH4OH→Fe(OH)3+3NH4Cl
Reddish brown ppt
5. Salt solution + solid NH4Cl + NH4OH(till (i)Black precipitate Presence of Gr 4
alkaline) + H2S (ii)White precipitate Co2+ or Ni2+
(iii)Buff precipitate present
Zn2+ present
Mn2+ present
Co (OH)2 +H2S→ 2H2O + CoS (black)
Ni (OH)2 +H2S→ 2H2O + NiS (black)
Zn (OH)2 +H2S→ 2H2O + ZnS (white)
Mn (OH)2 +H2S→ 2H2O + MnS (Buff coloured.
6. Salt solution + Solid NH4Cl +NH4OH(till White precipitate Presence of group 5
alkaline)+(NH4)2CO3
BaCl2 + (NH4)2CO3 → BaCO3 (White ppt) + 2NH4Cl
SrCl2 + (NH4)2CO3 → SrCO3 (White ppt) + 2NH4Cl
CaCl2 + (NH4)2CO3 → CaCO3 (White ppt) + 2NH4Cl
7. Salt solution+NH4Cl+NH4OH+Na2HPO4 White precipitate Presence of group 6

MgSO4+ NH4OH+Na2HPO4→ MgNH4PO4 (White ppt) +Na2SO4+ H2O

CONFIRMATORY TESTS FOR CATIONS

Confirmatory Test for NH4+
1. Salt solution is heated with NaOH. Smell of ammonia. NH4+ confirmed

2. To the above solution add Nessler’s Brown precipitate NH4+ is confirmed

Reagent.

∆
NH4Cl+ NaOH → NH3 + NaCl + H2O
2K2[HgI4] + NH3+3KOH→ 7KI+2H2O+ H2N.HgO.HgI
Brown ppt
Confirmatory Test for Pb2+

1. Salt solution + K2CrO4 solution Yellow precipitate Pb2+ confirmed

2. Salt solution + KI solution Yellow precipitate Pb2+ confirmed

dissolves in hot
water and reappears
as golden spangles
on cooling
Pb(NO3)2 + K2CrO4 → 2KNO3 + Pb CrO4 (Yellow precipitate)

5
 (CH3COO)2 Pb+2KI→ PbI2 (Yellow precipitate) + 2CH3COOK

Confirmatory Test for Cu2+

1. Salt solution + NH4OH (strong) Deep blue colour Cu2+ confirmed

CuSO4+4NH4OH→[Cu(NH3)4]SO4+4H2O
Deep blue colour

2. Salt solution + K4 [Fe(CN)6 ] solution Reddish brown ppt Cu2+ confirmed

2CuSO4+K4[Fe(CN)6]→ Cu2[Fe(CN)6] + 2K2SO4

Chocolate brown colour

Confirmatory Test for Cd2+

1. Salt solution + NaOH solution White ppt Cd2+ confirmed

2. Salt solution + K4[Fe(CN)6] solution White/Bluish white Cd2+ confirmed

ppt

Cd(NO3) 2+2NaOH→ Cd(OH)2+ 2NaNO3

White ppt.

2Cd(NO3)2+K4[Fe(CN)6]→ Cd2[Fe(CN)6] + 4 KNO3

white ppt.

If White gelatinous ppt

Confirmatory test for Al3+
Salt solution + dil.HCl +Blue Litmus Blue ppt (Lake) Al3+ confirmed
1. solution + NH4OH floats in clear liquid

Al(OH)3 + 3HCl → AlCl3 + 3H2O

AlCl3 + 3NH4OH→3NH4Cl + Al(OH)3
Blue colour adsorbs on this ppt
2. Ash test Blue ash Al3+ confirmed
salt + few drops of conc. HNO3 + Cobalt
nitrate and boiled. Dipped a filter paper
into the boiled mixture & burnt to ashes
∆
Co (NO3)2 → CoO + 2NO2
Al2O3 + CoO → Al2O3 . CoO
Blue ash

6
 1. If ppt is reddish brown White ppt Soluble Fe3+ confirmed
in excess of NaOH
Confirmatory test for Fe3+
Salt solution + K4 [Fe(CN)6 ] solution

4FeCl3+ 3 K4 [Fe(CN)6 ]→ Fe4[Fe(CN)6]3 + 12KCl

Prussian blue

If the ppt is Black

1. Confirmatory test for Ni2+ Bright red ppt Ni2+ confirmed

Salt solution + NH4OH + dimethyl
glyoxime

If the ppt is White

1. Confirmatory test for Zn2+
Salt solution + dil.HCl + K4Fe(CN)6 White ppt Zn2+ confirmed
solution()

2ZnCl2 + K4[Fe(CN)6] ----→ Zn2[Fe(CN)6] + 4KCl

Potassium hexa cyano ferrate white ppt.
2. Ash test: salt + few drops of conc. HNO3 Green ash Zn2+ confirmed
+ Cobalt nitrate and boiled. Dipped a filter
paper into the boiled mixture & burnt to
ashes
∆
Co (NO3)2 → CoO + 2NO2
ZnO + CoO → ZnO . CoO
green ash
If the ppt is Buff

1. Confirmatory test for Mn2+ Pink colour Mn2+ confirmed

Salt solution + HNO3 + Lead Peroxide

MnSO4+ 2HNO3 →Mn(NO3)2 + H2SO4

2Mn(NO3)2 + 5PbO 2+ 6HNO3→ 2HMnO4+ 5Pb(NO3)2+2H2O
Pink solution
INTER GROUP ANALYSIS OF GROUP V

1. Confirmatory test for Ba2+

Yellow Precipitate Ba2+ confirmed
Salt solution + K2CrO4 solution

Ba Cl2 + K2CrO4 → BaCrO4 + 2KCl

Yellow ppt
2. Flame test Apple green flame Ba2+ confirmed
A paste of salt with Con.HCl is brought
to the flame using a glass rod.

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 Confirmatory test for Ca2+
1. White precipitate Ca2+ confirmed
Salt solution + ammonium oxalate
solution
CaCl2 + (NH4)2C2O4 → 2NH4Cl + CaC2O4
White ppt

2. Flame test
A paste of salt with Con.HCl is brought Brick red flame Ca2+ confirmed
to the flame using a glass rod.
1. Confirmatory Test for Sr2+

Salt solution + ammonium sulphate White precipitate Sr2+ confirmed

solution
SrCl2 + (NH4)2SO4 → SrSO4 + 2NH4 Cl
White ppt
2. Flame test
A paste of salt with Con.HCl is brought Crimson red colour Sr2+ confirmed
to the flame using a glass rod.
Confirmatory Test for Mg2+
1. Salt solution +NH4Cl+NH4OH+Na2HPO4 White ppt Mg2+ confirmed
solution
MgSO4+ NH4OH+Na2HPO4 → MgNH4PO4 + Na2SO4 + H2O
White ppt
2. Ash test
salt + few drops of conc. HNO3 + Cobalt Pink ash Mg2+ confirmed
nitrate and boiled. Dipped a filter paper
into the boiled mixture & burnt to ashes
∆
Co (NO3)2 → CoO + 2NO2
MgO + CoO → MgO . CoO
pink ash