Salt Analysis - Complete Reference Guide
CATIONS
Group 0: Ammonium Group
NH₄⁺ (Ammonium)
Preliminary Test (PT):
• Heat salt with NaOH → Ammonia gas (pungent smell)
• NH₄Cl + NaOH → NH₃↑ + NaCl + H₂O
• Test: Moist red litmus turns blue
Confirmatory Test (CT):
• Nessler's Reagent (K₂HgI₄)
• NH₃ + 2K₂HgI₄ + 3KOH → NH₂Hg₂I₃↓ (brown ppt) + 7KI + 2H₂O
Group I: Lead/Silver Group (Precipitated by dil. HCl)
Pb²⁺ (Lead)
Preliminary Test:
• Add dil. HCl → White precipitate
• Pb²⁺ + 2Cl⁻ → PbCl₂↓ (white, soluble in hot water)
Confirmatory Test:
• Potassium Chromate Test
• Pb²⁺ + CrO₄²⁻ → PbCrO₄↓ (yellow ppt)
Ag⁺ (Silver)
Preliminary Test:
• Add dil. HCl → White precipitate
• Ag⁺ + Cl⁻ → AgCl↓ (white, curdy)
Confirmatory Test:
• AgCl + 2NH₄OH → [Ag(NH₃)₂]Cl + 2H₂O (soluble)
• Add HNO₃ → AgCl↓ reprecipitates
Group II: Copper/Arsenic Group (H₂S in acidic medium)
Pb²⁺ (Lead) - if not removed in Group I
Test:
• H₂S in acidic medium → PbS↓ (black)
• Pb²⁺ + H₂S → PbS↓ + 2H⁺
Cu²⁺ (Copper)
Preliminary Test:
• Blue/green color in solution
• Flame test: Green flame
Confirmatory Test:
• Excess NH₄OH → Deep blue solution
• Cu²⁺ + 4NH₃ → [Cu(NH₃)₄]²⁺ (tetraamine copper, deep blue)
Bi³⁺ (Bismuth)
Preliminary Test:
• H₂S in acidic medium → Bi₂S₃↓ (brown/black)
• 2Bi³⁺ + 3H₂S → Bi₂S₃↓ + 6H⁺
Confirmatory Test:
• Potassium Iodide Test
• Bi³⁺ + 3KI → BiI₃↓ (black) + 3K⁺
• BiI₃ + excess KI → K[BiI₄] (orange solution)
Cd²⁺ (Cadmium)
Preliminary Test:
• H₂S in acidic medium → CdS↓ (yellow)
• Cd²⁺ + H₂S → CdS↓ + 2H⁺
Confirmatory Test:
• CdS remains yellow in acidic medium (distinguishes from As, Sb, Sn)
Group III: Iron/Aluminium Group (NH₄OH in presence of NH₄Cl)
Fe³⁺ (Ferric Iron)
Preliminary Test:
• Yellow/brown color in solution
• Fe³⁺ + 3OH⁻ → Fe(OH)₃↓ (reddish-brown gelatinous)
Confirmatory Test:
• Potassium Thiocyanate Test
• Fe³⁺ + 3KSCN → Fe(SCN)₃ (blood red color) + 3K⁺
Al³⁺ (Aluminium)
Preliminary Test:
• Colorless solution
• Al³⁺ + 3NH₄OH → Al(OH)₃↓ (white gelatinous)
Confirmatory Test:
• Aluminon Reagent (Aurintricarboxylic acid)
• Forms red lake/precipitate with Al(OH)₃
• Alternative: Blue lake test
Cr³⁺ (Chromium)
Preliminary Test:
• Green color in solution
• Cr³⁺ + 3NH₄OH → Cr(OH)₃↓ (greyish-green)
Confirmatory Test:
• Oxidizing Fusion Test
• 2Cr(OH)₃ + 3Na₂O₂ → 2Na₂CrO₄ (yellow) + 2NaOH + H₂O
• Acidify and add H₂O₂ → CrO₅ (blue, transient)
Group IV: Zinc Group (H₂S in basic/alkaline medium)
Zn²⁺ (Zinc)
Preliminary Test:
• Colorless solution
• H₂S in alkaline medium → ZnS↓ (white/dirty white)
• Zn²⁺ + H₂S → ZnS↓ + 2H⁺
Confirmatory Test:
• Potassium Ferrocyanide Test
• 3Zn²⁺ + 2K₄[Fe(CN)₆] → K₂Zn₃[Fe(CN)₆]₂↓ (white/bluish-white)
Mn²⁺ (Manganese)
Preliminary Test:
• Pink/flesh colored solution
• Mn²⁺ + H₂S (alkaline) → MnS↓ (flesh/pink)
Confirmatory Test:
• Oxidizing Fusion (Sodium Bismuthate/PbO₂)
• 2Mn²⁺ + 5NaBiO₃ + 14H⁺ → 2MnO₄⁻ (violet/purple) + 5Bi³⁺ + 5Na⁺ + 7H₂O
Ni²⁺ (Nickel)
Preliminary Test:
• Green color in solution
• Ni²⁺ + H₂S (alkaline) → NiS↓ (black)
Confirmatory Test:
• Dimethylglyoxime (DMG) Test
• Ni²⁺ + 2DMG + 2NH₃ → Ni(DMG)₂↓ (bright red/scarlet ppt)
Co²⁺ (Cobalt)
Preliminary Test:
• Pink color in solution
• Co²⁺ + H₂S (alkaline) → CoS↓ (black)
Confirmatory Test:
• Borax Bead Test: Blue bead in both oxidizing and reducing flame
• Alternative: Add excess NH₄SCN → Co(SCN)₂ (blue solution)
Group V: Calcium/Magnesium Group (Ammonium carbonate)
Ca²⁺ (Calcium)
Preliminary Test:
• Ca²⁺ + (NH₄)₂C₂O₄ → CaC₂O₄↓ (white ppt)
Confirmatory Test:
• Flame Test: Brick red/orange-red flame
• CaCl₂ in flame → Characteristic color
Ba²⁺ (Barium)
Preliminary Test:
• Ba²⁺ + SO₄²⁻ (dil. H₂SO₄) → BaSO₄↓ (white, insoluble in acids)
Confirmatory Test:
• Flame Test: Apple green/yellowish-green flame
Sr²⁺ (Strontium)
Preliminary Test:
• Sr²⁺ + (NH₄)₂C₂O₄ → SrC₂O₄↓ (white ppt)
Confirmatory Test:
• Flame Test: Crimson red flame
Mg²⁺ (Magnesium)
Preliminary Test:
• Mg²⁺ + NH₄OH + NH₄Cl → Mg(OH)₂↓ (white ppt)
• (NH₄Cl prevents precipitation of other Group V cations)
Confirmatory Test:
• Magneson Reagent (p-nitrobenzene-azo-resorcinol)
• Forms blue lake with Mg(OH)₂ in alkaline medium
Group VI: Sodium/Potassium Group (Soluble salts)
Na⁺ (Sodium)
Preliminary Test:
• Flame Test: Golden yellow/persistent yellow flame
Confirmatory Test:
• Potassium Antimonate Test
• Na⁺ + [Sb(OH)₆]⁻ → Na[Sb(OH)₆]↓ (white crystalline ppt)
• Alternative: Zinc uranyl acetate → Yellow ppt
K⁺ (Potassium)
Preliminary Test:
• Flame Test: Violet/lilac flame (view through cobalt blue glass to filter out Na⁺)
Confirmatory Test:
• Sodium Cobaltinitrite Test
• 2K⁺ + Na₃[Co(NO₂)₆] → K₂Na[Co(NO₂)₆]↓ (yellow ppt) + 2Na⁺
ANIONS
Group A: Dilute H₂SO₄ Group (Volatile/gaseous products)
CO₃²⁻ (Carbonate)
Preliminary Test:
• Add dil. H₂SO₄ → Brisk effervescence
• CO₃²⁻ + H₂SO₄ → CO₂↑ + SO₄²⁻ + H₂O
Confirmatory Test:
• Pass CO₂ through lime water
• Ca(OH)₂ + CO₂ → CaCO₃↓ (milky/white)
• Excess CO₂: CaCO₃ + H₂O + CO₂ → Ca(HCO₃)₂ (soluble, clears)
S²⁻ (Sulphide)
Preliminary Test:
• Add dil. H₂SO₄ → H₂S gas (rotten egg smell)
• S²⁻ + H₂SO₄ → H₂S↑ + SO₄²⁻
Confirmatory Test:
• Lead Acetate Paper Test
• H₂S + Pb(CH₃COO)₂ → PbS↓ (black on paper) + 2CH₃COOH
SO₃²⁻ (Sulphite)
Preliminary Test:
• Add dil. H₂SO₄ → SO₂ gas (pungent, choking smell)
• SO₃²⁻ + H₂SO₄ → SO₂↑ + SO₄²⁻ + H₂O
Confirmatory Test:
• Acidified KMnO₄ Test
• 2MnO₄⁻ + 5SO₂ + 2H₂O → 2Mn²⁺ + 5SO₄²⁻ + 4H⁺
• (Purple color decolorizes)
S₂O₃²⁻ (Thiosulphate)
Preliminary Test:
• Add dil. H₂SO₄ → SO₂ + S (yellow turbidity)
• S₂O₃²⁻ + H₂SO₄ → SO₂↑ + S↓ + SO₄²⁻ + H₂O
Confirmatory Test:
• FeCl₃ Test
• S₂O₃²⁻ + 2FeCl₃ → 2FeCl₂ + S₂Cl₂
• S₂Cl₂ + S₂O₃²⁻ → Complex (violet/purple color)
NO₂⁻ (Nitrite)
Preliminary Test:
• Add dil. H₂SO₄ → Brown fumes (NO₂)
• 2NO₂⁻ + H₂SO₄ → NO↑ + NO₂↑ + SO₄²⁻ + H₂O
• 2NO + O₂ → 2NO₂ (brown)
Confirmatory Test:
• Brown Ring Test
• [Fe(H₂O)₆]²⁺ + NO → [Fe(H₂O)₅(NO)]²⁺ (brown ring)
Group B: Concentrated H₂SO₄ Group (Halides)
Cl⁻ (Chloride)
Preliminary Test:
• Add conc. H₂SO₄ + heat → HCl gas (white fumes)
• Cl⁻ + H₂SO₄ → HCl↑ + HSO₄⁻
• Test: Forms white fumes with NH₃
Confirmatory Test:
• Silver Nitrate Test
• Cl⁻ + AgNO₃ → AgCl↓ (white, curdy)
• AgCl + 2NH₃ → [Ag(NH₃)₂]⁺ + Cl⁻ (soluble in NH₄OH)
Br⁻ (Bromide)
Preliminary Test:
• Add conc. H₂SO₄ + MnO₂ + heat → Br₂ vapors (reddish-brown)
• 2Br⁻ + MnO₂ + 2H₂SO₄ → Br₂↑ + MnSO₄ + 2H₂O + SO₄²⁻
Confirmatory Test:
• Silver Nitrate Test
• Br⁻ + AgNO₃ → AgBr↓ (pale yellow)
• Sparingly soluble in NH₄OH
I⁻ (Iodide)
Preliminary Test:
• Add conc. H₂SO₄ + heat → I₂ vapors (violet)
• 2I⁻ + H₂SO₄ → I₂↑ + SO₂ + H₂O
Confirmatory Test:
• Silver Nitrate Test
• I⁻ + AgNO₃ → AgI↓ (yellow)
• Insoluble in NH₄OH
• Alternative: I₂ + starch → Blue color
Group C: Special Group (Requires specific tests)
SO₄²⁻ (Sulphate)
Preliminary Test