1
SALT ANALYSIS
I. PRELIMINARY TESTS
Sl. EXPERIMENT OBSERVATION INFERENCE
No
1 Colour and appearance is a) Colourless Absence of Cu2+ , Ni2+, Fe2+ or
noted Mn2+ may be present
2 Odour is noted Smell of ammonia Presence of NH4+
Smell of vinegar Presence of acetate
No characteristic smell Absence of NH4+ and acetate
3 Solubility is noted Soluble Absence of insoluble salts like
certain carbonates
4 Flame test: A little of the salt Pale green Presence of Ba2+
is made into a paste with con. Presence of Sr2+
HCl taken in a watch glass. A Crimson red
Brick red Presence of Ca2+
little of the paste is shown in
the non-luminous flame by a
glass rod.
Ash test
5
A little of the salt is dissolved
Blue ash Presence of Al3+
in con.HNO3 and added and
boiled with a few drops of
Green ash Presence of Zn2+
cobalt nitrate solution. A filter
paper dipped in it is burnt to
Pink ash Presence of Mg2+
ashes
2
II. ANALYSIS OF ANIONS
1 Test for carbonate:
Test with [Link]
A little of the salt is treated Brisk effervescence with the evolution of Presence of CO32- ion
with dil. HCl. colourless and odourless gas
CaCO3+2HCl → CaCl2 +H2O+CO2↑
Confirmatory test:
1. The gas obtained above The lime water turned milky Presence of CO32- is
is passed through lime Ca (OH)2+CO2 → Ca CO3 + H2O confirmed
water
2. A little of the salt
solution is treated with White precipitate soluble in [Link] Presence of CO32-
BaCl2 solution. CaCO3 +BaCl 2 → BaCO3 +CaCl2 confirmed.
2 Test for acetate:
Test with dil. H2SO4
smell of vinegar
To the salt added dil. H2SO4. Presence of
CH3COONa + H2SO4 → CH3COOH
Rub it and smell it. +NaHSO4 CH3COO-
Confirmatory test:
Ferric chloride test Reddish coloured filtrate
To a little of the salt solution
added neutral FeCl3 soln.
Filter and divide into two
portions.
Reddish colour disappears
1. To one part added Presence of acetate is
[Link] confirmed
Reddish brown ppt.
2. To the 2nd part added
water and boil.
3CH3COONa+FeCl3 → (CH3COO)3Fe +3NaCl
(CH3COO)3Fe +H2O → (CH3COO)(OH)Fe↓ +
2CH3COOH Reddish brown ppt
3
Test for Chloride: A colourless pungent smelling gas which Presence of Cl-.
Test with con.H2SO4 gives dense white fumes when a glass rod
To the salt, added Con. dipped in NH4OH is held to the mouth of the
H2SO4 and heat it. test tube.
NaCl +H2SO4 → NaHSO4 + HCl
HCl + NH4OH → NH4Cl + H2O
Confirmatory test: Presence of chloride
[Link] nitrate test A white curdy ppt. is formed which is confirmed.
Acidify a portion of the salt soluble in NH 4OH solution
solution with dil.HNO3. Boil NaCl + AgNO3→ AgCl+NaNO3
it. After cooling added White ppt
AgNO3 solution. AgCl + 2 NH4OH → [Ag(NH3)]Cl + 2H2O
soluble
[Link] chloride test Presence of chloride
Mix a small quantity of the A yellow ppt is formed confirmed.
salt with small amount of 4NaCl + K2Cr2O7 + 3H2SO4 → 2Na2SO4 +
powdered potassium K2SO4 + 2CrO2Cl2 + 3H2O
dichromate. Take the mixture Chromylchloride
in a test tube and added CrO2Cl2 + 4NaOH → Na2CrO4 + 2H2O +
con.H2SO4. Heat it and pass 2NaCl Sodium chromate
the red vapours evolved into
NaOH soln. To the yellow Na2CrO4 + (CH3COO)2Pb → PbCrO4 +
soln. obtained added 2CH3COONa Lead chromate
[Link] acid and lead (yellow ppt)
acetate soln.
4
Presence of NO32-
Test for nitrate: a) Brown fumes is formed
Test with con. H2SO4 and kNO3+H2SO4 → kHSO4+HNO3
paper ball 4HNO3 + C → 4NO2+2H2O+CO2
To a little of salt added con.
H2SO4 heated, then added
paper ball.
4
Presence of nitrate is
confirmed
Confirmatory test: A brown ring is formed at the junction of the
Brown ring test two liquids
Mix equal amount of salt KNO3 + H2SO4 → KHSO4 + HNO3
solution and ferrous sulphate 6FeSO4 + 3H2SO4 + 2HNO3 → 3Fe2(SO4)3 +
solution. Then added con. 4H2O + 2NO
H2SO4 carefully along the FeSO4 + NO + 5H2O → [Fe(NO)(H2O)5]SO4
5 sides of the test tube
Presence of SO42-
Test for sulphate:
Test with barium chloride White ppt insoluble in dil. HCl
A little of the salt solution is Na2SO4+BaCl 2 → BaSO4 +2NaCl
treated with BaCl2 solution . white ppt Presence of sulphate
is confirmed.
Confirmatory test: White ppt. is formed
A little of the salt solution, Na2SO4 + Pb(CH3COO)2 → PbSO4 +
2CH3COONa white ppt
added lead acetate solution
5
III. ANALYSIS OF CATIONS
Test for zero group:
1
A little of the salt is Smell of ammonia Presence of NH4+ ion
heated with NaOH
solution NH4Cl + NaOH → NH3 ↑+ H2O+NaCl
Confirmatory test:
1. Bring a glass rod White fumes Presence of NH4+ is
dipped in [Link] to the
NH3 + HCl → NH4Cl confirmed
mouth of the test tube.
[Link]’s reagent test
A brown ppt. is formed Presence of NH4+ is
To the salt solution added
Nessler’s reagent. 2K2[HgI4] + NH3 + 3KOH → [Link]↓ confirmed
Nessler’s ragent Brown ppt
+ 7KI + 2H2O
Test for group I:
(reagent [Link])
2 To the salt solution added a) White ppt. a) Presence of Pb2+ ion
[Link] Pb(NO3)2 + 2HCl → PbCl2↓ + 2HNO3
Confirmatory test:
Filter and wash the above Precipitate dissolves Presence of lead is
ppt with cold water. Boil confirmed.
it. Divide into 3 parts.
1. Cool one part of the White crystalline ppt. seperates out Presence of lead is
solution confirmed.
[Link] test Yellow ppt. Presence of lead is
Added KI solution to the PbCl2 + 2KI → PbI2↓ + 2KCl confirmed.
2nd part of the solution
3.K2CrO4 test
Added K2CrO4 to the 3rd Yellow ppt. Presence of lead is
part of the solution. PbCl2 + K2CrO4 → PbCrO4↓ + 2KCl confirmed.
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3 Test for group II:
(reagent [Link] + H2S)
A little of the salt solution is Black ppt Presence of Cu2+ ion
treated with [Link] and pass H2S
4 Test for group III:
(reagent NH4Cl + NH4OH)
To the salt solution added solid A white gelatinous ppt. Presence of Al3+ ion
NH4Cl and boil it. Then cool the AlCl3 + 3NH4OH → 3NH4Cl +
solution and added excess of Al(OH)3↓
NH4OH and shake. White ppt
Confirmatory test:
[Link] test
A little of the salt is dissolved in Presence of Al3+ is confirmed
con.HNO3 and added and boiled Blue ash
with a few drops of cobalt nitrate Chemistry: Blue ash is formed due to
solution. A filter paper dipped in the formation of double oxide of cobalt
it is burnt to ashes. and aluminum. (CoO.Al2O3)
2. Dissolve the white gelatinous Presence of Al3+ is confirmed
ppt. in [Link]. Added to it few Blue ppt. floating in the colourless
drops of blue litmus solution. To solution.
this added NH4OH drop wise till Al(OH)3 + 3HCl → AlCl3 + 3H2O
blue colour develops. AlCl3 + 3NH4OH → 3NH4Cl +
Al(OH)3 ↓
Blue colour absorbs
on this ppt
7
5 Test for group IV:
(reagent NH4Cl,NH4OH +
H2S)
To a little of the salt
solution added solid Dirty white ppt. Presence of Zn2+
NH4Cl and boil. After
cooling added excess Zn (OH)2 + H2S → ZnS ↓ + 2H2O
NH4OH. Then pass H2S White ppt
through it.
Confirmatory test:
[Link] test
A little of the salt is
dissolved in con.HNO3 and Green Ash Presence of Zn2+ is
added and boiled with a Chemistry: Green ash is formed due to the confirmed
few drops of cobalt nitrate formation of double oxide of zinc and cobalt.
solution. A filter paper ([Link])
dipped in it is burnt to
ashes.
2. Dissolve the white ppt. A white ppt. is obtained Presence of Zn2+ is
in [Link]. Boil off H2S. ZnS + 2HCl → ZnCl2 + H2S confirmed
Then added a few drops of 2ZnCl2 + k4[Fe(CN)6] → Zn2[Fe(CN)6]↓ +
potassium ferrocyanide 4KCl white ppt
solution.
6 Test for group V:
(reagent NH4Cl,NH4OH +
(NH4)2CO3)
To the salt solution added White ppt. Presence of 5th group
NH4Cl. Heat it. After BaCl2 BaCO3 (Ba2+/Sr2+/Ca2+)
cooling added NH4OH till SrCl2 + (NH4)2CO3 → SrCO3 + 2NH4Cl
the solution smells CaCl2 CaCO3
ammonia. Then added
(NH4)2CO3 solution.
8
Dissolve the white ppt. in
hot [Link] acid and
divide into 3 parts.
Confirmatory test(Ba2+):
1. To one part, added a few Yellow ppt.
drops of potassium (CH3COO)2Ba + K2CrO4 → 2CH3COOK + Presence of Ba2+ is
chromate solution. BaCrO4 ↓ confirmed
Yellow ppt
[Link] test:
A little of the salt is made
Pale green flame
into a paste with con. HCl
Presence of Ba2+ is
taken in a watch glass. A
confirmed
little of the paste is shown
in the non-luminous flame
by a glass rod.
Confirmatory test(Sr2+):
1. To the 2nd part, added
White ppt
ammonium sulphate Presence of Sr2+ is
solution. (CH3COO)2Sr + (NH4)2SO4 → confirmed
2CH3COONH4 + SrSO4 ↓
White ppt
[Link] test:
A little of the salt is made Crimson red flame
into a paste with con. HCl
taken in a watch glass. A Presence of Sr2+ is
little of the paste is shown confirmed
in the non-luminous flame
by a glass rod.
Confirmatory test(Ca2+):
1. To the 3rd part, added White ppt.
ammonium oxalate
(CH3COO)2Ca + (NH4)2C2O4 → Presence of Ca2+ is
solution.
2CH3COONH4 + CaC2O4 ↓ confirmed
White ppt
9
[Link] test:
A little of the salt is made Brick red flame
into a paste with con. HCl
taken in a watch glass. A
Presence of Ca2+ is
little of the paste is shown
confirmed
in the non-luminous flame
by a glass rod.
7 Test for group VI:
(reagent NH4Cl,NH4OH +
Na2HPO4)
To the salt solution added A white crystalline ppt.
Presence of Mg2+
NH4Cl and NH4OH in
excess. Then added MgSO4 + Na2HPO4 + NH4OH →
disodium hydrogen MgNH4PO4 + Na2SO4 + H2O
phosphate solution
Confirmatory test:
[Link] test
A little of the salt is Pink ash
dissolved in con.HNO3 and Chemistry: Pink ash is formed due to the
Presence of Mg2+ is
added and boiled with a formation of double oxide of Mg and Co confirmed
few drops of cobalt nitrate ([Link])
solution. A filter paper
dipped in it is burnt to
ashes. A blue ppt.
2. A little of the solution is MgSO4 + 2NaOH → Mg(OH)2 + Na2SO4 Presence of Mg2+ is
treated with NaOH Mg (OH) 2 formed absorbs the magneson confirmed
solution and added reagent and the resulting mass appeared to be
magneson reagent. blue in colour.
RESULT: The given salt contains:
Anion:
Cation:
The salt is____________
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