Salt analysis

(Anything written in this type of font is only a message for ‘what to do’ and not to be
included in the report.)

Any one salt among the following salts may be given: CaCO3, ZnCO3, MgCO3,
NH4Cl, SrCl2, BaCl2, NH4Br, Ba(NO3)2, Sr(NO3)2, Al2(SO4)3, MnSO4, ZnSO4 and
MgSO4

I.Preliminary Tests:

TEST OBSERVATION INFERENCE

Colour Salts with coloured ions are
Colourless
absent
Most of the carbonates are
Physical state: Crystalline amorphous. So, CO3−2 may be
absent.
Solubility :
Except Na +1 , K +1 and NH 4+1
carbonates, all other
Insoluble carbonates are water
insoluble. So, may be
Salt + water
carbonate salt.

Soluble Carbonate may be absent.

Water vapour is evolved

and water condenses as
droplets at cooler part of May be hydrated salt
test tube
and/ or
White sublimate at cooler
Action of heat:
parts of test tube and
Solid salt is heated strongly in
evolution of colourless NH4+1 ion may be present
a dry test tube by holding the
gas with ammonia smell
mouth of the test tube
or
downwards.
Heavy reddish brown
vapours evolved Br-1 ion may be present
or
Salt is white in cold
condition and yellow Zn2+ ion may be present
when hot
II. Anion detection (acid radical):

TEST OBSERVATION INFERENCE

I group anions CO3-2 is absent.
No effervescence or no
Proceed with test ‘B’ for the
A Solid salt + dil HCl gas evolved
detection of II group anions.
or
 Effervescence of I group anion CO3−2 is present.
colourless, odourless Proceed with the test for
CO2 gas is noticed confirmation of Carbonate
Br-1 is absent.
No gas is evolved in cold
Proceed with the same test by
condition.
heating the mixture.
or
II group anions Cl-1, Br-1, NO3-1
No gas is evolved even are absent.
on heating. Proceed with the test ‘C’for III
group anion detection.
or
II Group anion is present.
Reddish brown heavy Br-1 is present.
gas is evolved. Proceed with the analysis of
Solid salt + conc
B Bromide ion.
H2SO4
or
Colourless gas is
II Group anion is present.
evolved. It gives dense
Cl-1 is present.
white fumes (of solid
Proceed with the analysis of
NH4Cl) with glass rod
Chloride ion.
dipped in NH4OH solution
or
Faint reddish vapours of
II Group anion is present.
NO2 are evolved. More
NO3-1 is present.
reddish vapours are
Proceed with the analysis of
released upon addition of
Nitrate ion.
a piece of paper or Cu.
-2
C Test for Sulphate SO4 :
No white precipitate is Probably, you missed the II
obtained. Group anion. Repeat test ‘B’
Salt solution + or
aq BaCl2 solution White precipitate is III group anion SO4−2 is present.
obtained; it is insoluble in
dilute HCl

Test for carbonate CO3-2:

TEST OBSERVATION INFERENCE

Salt + dil HCl ; the gas Lime water turns milky.
liberated is transferred to On passing excess of CO3-2 ion presence is
the test tube containing gas, colorless solution is confirmed.
colourless lime water obtained

Test for Bromide Br-1:

TEST OBSERVATION INFERENCE

 Pale yellow precipitate
Salt solution + AgNO3 is obtained. It is soluble Br-1 ion presence is
solution in excess of NH 4OH confirmed.
solution.
Test for Chloride Cl-1:

TEST OBSERVATION INFERENCE

Curd like white
Salt solution + AgNO3 precipitate, which is
Cl-1 ion is present
solution soluble in NH 4OH
solution
Confirmatory test for Cl-1:
Solid salt + 2 to 3 crystals of Red vapours of chromyl Cl −1 ion is present
K2Cr2O7 + few drops of conc chloride are evolved
H 2 SO4 and heat. Pass the
vapours through NaOH Yellow solution of sodium Cl −1 ion is present
solution taken in another chromate is obtained
test tube

To the yellow solution add Yellow precipitate of lead Cl −1 ion presence is

acetic acid and lead acetate chromate is obtained confirmed.
solution

Test for Nitrate NO3-1:

TEST OBSERVATION INFERENCE

Salt solution + excess of Brown ring is formed at
the junction of two
freshly prepared FeSO4
layers(Bottom layer is
solution and add heavy concentrated NO3−1 ion presence is
concentrated H 2 SO4 along H 2 SO4 and the top layer confirmed.
the sides of the test tube is lighter aqueous
without shaking the solution of other
contents of test tube. chemicals).

Test for Sulphate SO4-2:

TEST OBSERVATION INFERENCE

White precipitate is III group anion SO4−2 is
Salt solution + BaCl2 obtained present
solution White precipitate is SO4−2 presence is
insoluble in dilute HCl confirmed.

The given salt contains___ Group anion ____ and the anion is _________.
III Cation detection (Basic radicals):

TEST OBSERVATION INFERENCE

NH4+1detection (Zeroth group):
Pungent smelling
(ammonia) gas is
NH 4+1 ion is absent.
not evolved. No
dense white fumes Proceed with test I
with glass rod Group cation test (E)
Solid salt + 2 to 3 drops of dipped in Conc HCl.
D strong solution of NaOH . Heat or
gently. Pungent smelling Zeroth group cation
(ammonia) gas is
NH 4+1 ion is present.
evolved. It gives
dense white fumes Proceed with the test
with glass rod for ammonium ion.
dipped in Conc HCl.
I group cation

E Salt solution + dil. HCl

No precipitate is ( Ag + , Pb+2 ) is absent.
obtained Proceed to II Group
cation test (F)
II group cation Cu+2 is
No precipitate is absent. Proceed with
obtained III Group cation test
(G)
Salt solution + dil. HCl + H2 S or
F
II group cation Cu+2 is
present, if salt was
Black precipitate of
blue in colour.
CuS is obtained
Proceed with tests for
Cu2+ ion.
III group cation Al+3 is
No precipitate is absent. Proceed with
obtained IV Group cation test
(H)
Salt solution + NH 4Cl solution+
G or
NH 4OH solution
III group cation Al 3+
White gelatinous
is present. Proceed
precipitate of
Al(OH)3 is obtained with the test for Al+3
ion.
IV group cation
Salt solution + NH 4Cl solution+ No precipitate is Mn+2 , Zn+2 are absent.
H obtained Proceed with V group
NH 4OH solution + H2 S
cation test (I)
or
 IV group cation is
Flesh coloured
present. As the salt is
precipitate of MnS is
pale pink,Proceed
obtained.
with test for Mn2+ ion.
or
White coloured IV group cation is
precipitate of ZnS is present. Proceed with
obtained. test for Zn2+ ion
V group cation
Ca +2 , Ba +2 , Sr +2 are
No precipitate is
obtained absent. Proceed with
VI Group cation test
(J)
Salt solution + NH 4Cl solution+ or
I NH 4OH solution + ( NH 4 )2 CO3 Any one metal cation
solution among Ca +2 , Ba +2 , Sr +2
White precipitate is of V group is present.
obtained. Proceed with flame
test followed by test
for respective metal
ions.
Repeat cation
analysis; as no cation
No precipitate is
presence is detected
obtained.
from Group I to Group
Salt solution + NH 4OH VI.
J
solution+ Na2 HPO4 solution or
VI group cation is
White precipitate is present. Mg+2 is
obtained present. Proceed with
the test for Mg+2 ion.

Test for Ammonium NH4+1:

TEST OBSERVATION INFERENCE

+1
Few drops of salt solution + NH ion presence is
Dark brown precipitate 4
1 mL of Nessler’s reagent + confirmed
is observed
NaOH. shake

Test for cupric ion Cu+2:

TEST OBSERVATION INFERENCE

Salt solution + NH 4OH Sky blue coloured Cu+2 presence is
solution precipitate of Cu(OH)2 confirmed.

Excess of NH 4OH solution Deep blue coloured Cu+2 presence is

solution. confirmed.
is added.
 Salt solution + Chocolate brown Cu+2 presence is
K 4  Fe ( CN )6  coloured precipitate is confirmed.
obtained

Test for aluminium ion Al+3:

TEST OBSERVATION INFERENCE

White gelatinous
precipitate is obtained ,
Salt solution +few drops of Al+3 cation presence is
which is soluble in
NaOH solution confirmed.
excess of NaOH
solution
Test for Manganous Mn+2:

TEST OBSERVATION INFERENCE

+2
Salt solution + few drops of A brown coloured Mn presence is
NaOH solution precipitate is obtained confirmed
Test for Zinc Zn+2:

TEST OBSERVATION INFERENCE

+2
White precipitate is Zn ion is present
Salt solution + NaOH obtained which is
solution soluble in excess of
NaOH.

White precipitate Zn +2 ion presence is

Salt solution+ NH 4OH obtained is insoluble in confirmed.
solution. excess of NH 4OH
solution.
Flame test:
Take a pinch of salt on
watch glass + 1-2 drops of
concentrated HCl ,make a
Green flashes of light Zn+2 ion presence is
paste and paste it on a are observed confirmed.
match stick and it is
exposed to the non-
luminous part of Bunsen
flame
Test for calcium Ca+2:

TEST OBSERVATION INFERENCE

+2
Salt solution + ammonium White precipitate is Ca ion may be present
oxlate ( NH 4 )2 C2O4 obtained
Flame test:
Take a pinch of salt on
Brick red coloured flame Ca +2 ion presence is
watch glass + 1-2 drops of
is-observed confirmed
concentrated HCl make a
paste and paste it on to a
 match stick and expose it
to the non-luminous part of
Bunsen flame

Test for Barium Ba+2:

TEST OBSERVATION INFERENCE

+2
Salt solution + K2CrO4 Yellow precipitate is Ba ion may be present
solution obtained
Flame test:
Take a pinch of salt on
watch glass + 1-2 drops of
concentrated HCl make a Apple green flame Ba +2 ion presence is
paste and paste it on a observed confirmed
match stick and expose it
to the non-luminous part of
Bunsen flame

Test for Strontium Sr+2:

TEST OBSERVATION INFERENCE

Salt solution + ( NH 4 )2 SO4 +2
White precipitate is Sr ion may be present
obtained
solution
Flame test:
Take a pinch of salt on
watch glass + 1-2 drops of
concentrated HCl make a Crimson red coloured
Sr+2 ion presence is
paste and paste it on a flame is observed
confirmed.
match stick and expose it
to the non-luminous part of
Bunsen flame

Test for magnesium Mg+2 :

TEST OBSERVATION INFERENCE

White precipitate is
Salt solution + NaOH obtained , which is Mg2+ cation presence is
solution soluble in NH 4Cl confirmed.
solution

The give salt contains _________ group cation; and it is ________cation.

The given salt is _________________