DEVAMATHA CMI PUBLIC SCHOOL, THRISSUR

SYSTEMATIC ANALYSIS OF AN INORGANIC SALT

Experiment Observation Inference
I.PRELIMINARY EXAMINATIONS
1. Colour and appearance of the i. Blue, bluish green. i. May be Cu2+ is present.
salt were noted ii. Green colour. ii. May be Ni2+ is present.
iii. Light pink colour. iii. May be Mn2+ is present.
iv. Colourless. iv. May be Cu2+, Ni2+, Co2+
and Mn2+ ions are absent.

i. Amorphous in nature. i. May be carbonate is present.

ii. Crystalline in nature. ii. May be nitrate, chlorides,
sulphate are present.
iii. Deliquescent. iii. May be NH4+, nitrate, chloride
ions are present.
2. Solubility i. Soluble in water and no i. May be due to the
A small quantity of the salt was shaken precipitate is formed on adding presence of NH4+.
with water. A few drops of sodium sodium carbonate solution
carbonate solution were added to the because ammonium carbonate
clear aqueous solution. is soluble in water.
ii. Soluble in water and a ii. May be due to the absence
precipitate is formed on adding of NH4+.
sodium carbonate solution.
3. Flame test. i. Blue or green colour i. May be due to the presence of
A small quantity of the solid was made Cu2+
into a paste with a few drops of conc. ii. Light green colour. ii. May be due to the presence of
HCI in a watch glass. A small quantity Ba2+
of paste was brought into a non- iii. Brick red colour. iii. May be due to the presence of
luminous Bunsen flame using a burnt Ca2+.
splinter. iv. Crimson colour. iv. May be due to the presence of
Sr2+
v. No characteristic coloured v. May be due to the absence of
flame Cu2+, Ba2+, Ca2+ or Sr2+.

4. Ash test i. Blue tinted ash (Al2O3.CoO) is i. May be due to the presence of
A little of the salt was acidified with obtained Al3+
conc. HNO3 and cobalt nitrate solution
in a watch glass. A folded filter paper ii. Green tinted ash (ZnO.CoO) is ii. May be due to the presence of
soaked in this solution was burnt to obtained Zn2+
ashes.
iii. Pink tinted ash (MgO.CoO) is iii. May be due to the presence of
obtained Mg2+

iv. No characteristic coloured ash iv. May be due to the absence of

Al3+, Zn2+, Mg2+
II. ANALYSIS FOR THE INDENTIFICATION OF ANION
1. Test with dil.HCI i. Brisk effervescence with i. Indicates the presence of
A few drops of dil.HCl was added to the evolution of CO2, a carbonate.
salt taken in a testube. colourless odourless
gas.

ii. No characteristic observation. ii. Indicates the absence of

carbonate.

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2. Test with dil H2SO4. i. Smell of vinegar due to the i. Indicates the presence of
A little of the substance was rubbed formation of acetic acid is acetate.
with dil.H2SO4 in a watch glass and obtained.
the smell was noted.
ii. No Smell of vinegar. ii. Indicates the absence of acetate
3. Test with dil H2SO4 and MnO2. i. Brisk effervescence with i. Indicates the presence of
A few drops of dil. H2SO4 was added evolution of CO2, a oxalate.
to a little of the salt taken in a test tube. colourless odourless gas
It was then heated and a pinch is obtained.
of MnO2 was added. ii. No characteristic observation. ii. Indicates the absence of
oxalate.
4. Test with conc. H2SO4. i. A colourless gas, HCl fuming i. Indicates the presence of
A few drops of conc.H2SO4 was added in moist air is evolved. Dense chloride.
to a little of the salt taken in a dry test white fumes of NH4Cl is
tube. produced when a glass rod
dipped in NH4OH is shown at
the mouth of the test tube.
ii. No characteristic observation. ii. Indicates the absence of
chloride.
5. Test with conc. H2SO4 and paper i. Plenty of brown gas, i. Indicates the presence of
ball. NO2 is evolved. nitrate.
A little of the salt was heated strongly
with a few drops of conc. H2SO4 and ii. No evolution of brown gas. ii. Indicates the absence of nitrate.
a paper ball was dropped into it.
6. Test with BaCl2 solution. i. A white precipitate of BaSO4 i. Indicates the presence of
To a little of the salt solution, BaCl2 is formed which is insoluble in sulphate.
solution was added. excess of dil.HCI.
ii. No characteristic precipitate is ii. Indicates the absence of
obtained. sulphate.

III. CONFIRMATORY TESTS FOR ANIONS

1. Confirmatory Tests For Carbonate, CO32-

(i) Test with dil.HCl. Lime water turned milky due to the Presence of carbonate is confirmed.
A few drops of dil.HCl was added to the formation of CaCO3.
salt taken in a test tube. The gas evolved
was passed through lime water taken in
another test tube.
(ii) Test with BaCl2 solution A white precipitate of BaCO3 is formed Presence of carbonate is confirmed.
To a little of the salt solution, BaCl2 and is soluble in dil.HCl.
solution was added.

2. Confirmatory Tests For Acetate, CH3COO-

(i) Test with ferric chloride solution. A red coloured solution/precipitate of Presence of acetate is confirmed.
A few drops of neutral ferric chloride ferric acetate is obtained.
solution was added to a little of the salt
solution.
(ii) Ethyl acetate test.
A small quantity of the salt was mixed A pleasant smell of ester is obtained. Presence of acetate is confirmed.
with a few drops of methanol and conc.
H2SO4. The mixture was heated, cooled
and then poured into excess of water
taken in another test tube.

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3. Confirmatory Tests For Oxalate, C2O42-

(i) Test with Calcium chloride White precipitate of calcium oxalate is Presence of oxalate is confirmed.
solution. formed.
The salt solution was acidified with
acetic acid and then a few drops of
calcium chloride solution was added.
(ii) Test with KMnO4 solution. Potassium permanganate solution got Presence of oxalate is confirmed.
2+
The salt solution was acidified with decolourised due to the formation of Mn
acetic acid and then one or two drops ions.
of KMnO4 solution was added.
4. Confirmatory Tests For Chloride, Cl-

(i) Test with conc. H2SO4 and MnO2. A greenish yellow gas Cl2, with pungent Presence of chloride is confirmed.
A little of the salt was heated with smell is evolved.
conc. H2SO4 and a pinch of MnO2 was
added.
(ii) Test with AgNO3 solution.
To a little of salt solution, few drops of A white curdy precipitate of silver Presence of chloride is confirmed.
conc.HNO3 and AgNO3 solution were chloride is obtained which is completely
added. soluble in excess of ammonium hydroxide.
5. Confirmatory Tests For Nitrate, NO3-

(i) Brown ring test. A brown ring is formed at the Presence of nitrate is confirmed.
A little of the salt solution was mixed junction of the two layers due to the
with an equal volume of freshly formation of a complex, penta aqua
prepared ferrous sulphate solution and nitrosoferroussulphate.
shaken well. Conc. H2SO4 was
carefully added to this mixture along
the sides of the test tube without
shaking.
(ii) Reducing test. Evolution of ammonia gas giving dense Presence of nitrate is confirmed.
A small quantity of the salt was heated white fumes of NH4Cl when a glass rod
with sodium hydroxide solution and dipped in conc.HCl is shown at the mouth
aluminium powder. of the test tube.
6. Confirmatory Tests For Sulphate, SO42-

(i) Test with lead acetate solution. A white precipitate of lead sulphate is Presence of sulphate is confirmed.
A little of the salt solution was acidified formed.
with acetic acid and lead acetate
solution was added to it.
(ii) Test with ammonium acetate
solution. The precipitate gets dissolved due to the Presence of sulphate is confirmed.
A little of the above precipitate was formation of soluble lead acetate.
separated and heated with ammonium
acetate solution.
IV RESULT :
The given salt contains -------- as anion
V. ANALYSIS FOR THE IDENTIFICATION OF CATION
1. Test with sodium carbonate i. Soluble in water and no i. Indicates the presence of zero
solution. precipitate is formed on adding group cation (NH4+).
To a little of the salt solution, a few sodium carbonate solution due
drops of sodium carbonate solution was to the formation of soluble
added. ammonium carbonate.
ii. Soluble in water and a ii. Indicates the absence of zero
precipitate is formed on adding group cation (NH4+).
sodium carbonate solution.
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2. Test with dil.HCI. i. A white precipitate of PbCl2 is i. Indicates the presence of
A few drops of dil. HCl was added to a formed. The precipitate group I cation (Pb2+).
little of the salt solution. dissolves on boiling with
water and reappears on
cooling.
ii. No characteristic precipitate is ii. Indicates the absence of
formed. group I cation (Pb2+).
3. Test with dil.HCl and H2S. i. A black precipitate of Cu2S is i. Indicates the presence of
A little of the salt was formed. group II cation ( Cu2+).
acidified with dil HCI and H2S ii. No characteristic precipitate is ii. Indicates the absence of
solution was added. formed. group Il cation (Cu2+).

4. Test with NH4CI and NH4OH. i. A white gelatinous precipitate i. Indicates the presence of
A few drops of ammonium chloride and of Al(OH)3 is formed. group III cation (Al3+).
excess of ammonium hydroxide were ii. A brown precipitate of Fe(OH)3 ii. Indicates the presence of
added to salt solution. is formed. group III cation (Fe3+)
iii. No characteristic precipitate is iii. Indicates the absence of group
formed. III cation (Al3+,Fe3+).
5. Test with NH4CI, NH4OH and H2S.

A few drops of NH4Cl, excess of i. Indicates the presence of

NH4OH and H2S solution were added to a i. A white precipitate of ZnS is group IV cation (Zn2+).
little of the salt solution. formed.
ii. Indicates the presence of
ii. A flesh coloured precipitate of group IV cation (Mn2+).
MnS is formed.
iii. Indicates the presence of grouIV
iii. A black coloured precipitate of cation(Co2+ or Ni2+)
CoS or NiS is formed. iv. Indicates the absence of
iv. No characteristic precipitate is groupIV cations (Co2+,
formed. Ni2+, Zn2+, Mn2+).
6. Test with NH4CI, NH4OH and i. A white precipitate of CaCO3 or i. Indicates the presence of
(NH4)2CO3. BaCO3 or SrCO3 is formed. group V cations (Ba2+,
A few drops of NH4Cl, excess of Sr2+ and Ca2+).
NH4OH and ammonium carbonate ii. No characteristic precipitate is ii. Indicates the absence of
solution were added to a little of the formed. group V cations (Ba2+,
salt solution Sr2+ and Ca2+).
7. Test with NH4CI, NH4OH i. A white precipitate of i. Indicates the presence of
and Na2HPO4. magnesiumhydrogenphosphate group VI cation (Mg2+).
A few drops of NH4Cl, excess of is formed.
NH4OH and disodium hydrogen
phosphate solution were added to a ii. No characteristic precipitate is ii. Indicates the absence of group
little of the salt solution. formed. VI cation (Mg2+).

VI. CONFIRMATORY TESTS FOR CATIONS

Confirmatory tests for group zero cation (NH4+)

(i) Test with NaOH solution A colourless gas,NH3 with the pungent Presence of NH4+ is confirmed.
A few drops of sodium hydroxide smell is evolved. Dense white fumes of
solution was added to a little of the salt NH4Cl is produced when a glass rod
solution. dipped in conc.HCI is shown at the
mouth of the test tube.
(ii) Test with Nessler's
reagent(K2[HgI]4) A few A brown precipitate of H2N.HgO.HgI is Presence of NH4+ is confirmed.
drops of Nessler’s reagent was formed.
added to a little of the salt sol
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 Confirmatory test for group I cation (Pb2+)

(i) Action of KI solution. A yellow precipitate of PbI2 is formed. Presence of Pb2+ is confirmed.
A few drops of KI was added to a little This precipitate dissolves on heating
of the salt solution. with water and reappears as golden
spangles on cooling.
(ii) Action of K2CrO4 solution.
To a little of the salt solution, a few Yellow precipitate of PbCrO4 is formed Presence of Pb2+ is confirmed.
drops of potassium chromate solution
was added.

Confirmatory tests for group II cation (Cu2+)

(i) To a little of salt, ammonium Light blue precipitate is formed first Presence of Cu2+ is confirmed.
hydroxide was added drop wise. and it turned to deep blue
solution(complex) when excess of
ammonium hydroxide is added to it.
(ii) A little of salt solution was acidified
with dil. acetic acid and then Chocolate coloured precipitate Presence of Cu2+ is confirmed.
potassium ferrocyanide solution was (Cu2[Fe(CN)6] ) is formed.
added.
Confirmatory tests for group III cations (Al3+, Fe3+)

Confirmatory test for (Al3+)

(i) To a little of the salt solution, Formation of a white Presence of Al3+ is confirmed.
sodium hydroxide solution was precipitate(Al(OH)3) dissolving in
added drop by drop till in excess. excess of sodium hydroxide due to the
formation of sodium aluminate.
(ii) A little of the salt solution was Presence of Al3+ is confirmed.
acidified with conc. HNO3 and add Blue tinted ash(Al2O3.CoO) is obtained.
cobalt nitrate solution. A folded filter
paper was soaked in this solution and was
burnt to ashes.

Confirmatory test for (Fe3+)

(i) To a little of salt solution, a few Blue precipitate of ferric ferrocyanide is Presence of Fe3+ is confirmed.
drops of potassium ferrocyanide formed.
solution was added.

(ii) A few drops of ammonium Blood red coloured solution is formed Presence of Fe3+ is confirmed.
thiocyanate solution was added to due to ferric thiocyanide.
a little of the salt solution.

Confirmatory test for group IV cations (Co2+, Ni2+,Zn2+,Mn2+)

Confirmatory tests for (Ni2+)

(i) The black precipitate obtained in Yellow residue is obtained. Presence of Ni2+ confirmed
identification test was dissolved
in aqua regia in a china dish and
evaporated to dryness.

A red complex precipitate is formed. Presence of Ni2+ is confirmed.

(ii) To a little of the salt solution a few
drops of dimethyl glyoxime
in rectified spirit is added, followed by
slight excess of ammonium hydroxide.

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Confirmatory tests for (Co2+)

(i) The black precipitate obtained in Blue residue is formed. Presence of Co2+ is confirmed.
identification test was dissolved in aqua
regia in a china dish and evaporated to
dryness.
Reddish brown precipitate is formed. Presence of Co2+ confirmed.
(ii) To a little of the salt solution
excess of ammonium hydroxide and
then Potassium ferrocyanide solution
was added.

Confirmatory tests for (Zn2+)

(i) Test with sodium hydroxide. Formation of white precipitate Presence of Zn2+ is confirmed.
To a little of salt solution, sodium (Zn(OH)2) dissolving in excess of
hydroxide solution was added drop by NaOH solution due to the formation of
drop till in excess. sodium zincate.

(ii)Ash Test.

A little of the salt was acidified with Green tinted ash(ZnO.CoO) is obtained. Presence of Zn2+ is confirmed.
conc. HNO3 and cobalt nitrate solution.
A folded filter paper soaked in this
solution was burnt to ashes.
Confirmatory tests for (Mn2+)

(i) Test with sodium hydroxide. A white precipitate of Mn(OH)2 is Presence of Mn2+ is confirmed.
To a little of the salt solution, sodium formed.
hydroxide solution was added drop by
drop.

(ii) Test with lead dioxide.

A little of the salt solution was boiled The clear solution gets violet colour. Presence of Mn2+ is confirmed.
with a few drops of conc.HNO3 and a
pinch of lead dioxide. The solution was
diluted.

Confirmatory tests for group V cation (Ba2+, Sr2+, Ca2+)

Confirmatory tests for (Ba2+)

(i) Test with potassium chromate. A yellow precipitate is formed. Presence of Ba2+ is confirmed.
A few drops of acetic acid and
potassium chromate solution were
added to a little of the salt solution.

(ii) Flame test Flashes of green colour is imparted to the Presence of Ba2+ is confirmed.
A small quantity of the salt was made flame.
into a paste with a few drops of conc.
HCl in a watch glass. A little of the
paste was brought into a non-
luminous Bunsen flame using a burnt
splinter.

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Confirmatory test for (Sr2+)

(i) Test with ammonium sulphate. White precipitate of SrSO4 is formed . Presence of Sr2+ is confirmed.
A few drops of acetic acid and
ammonium sulphate solution were
added to a little of the salt solution.
(ii) Flame test.
A small quantity of the salt was made
into a paste with a few drops of conc. Crimson colour is imparted to the flame. Presence of Sr2+ is confirmed.
HCl in a watch glass. A little of the
paste was brought into a non- luminous
Bunsen flame using a burnt
splinter.
Confirmatory tests for (Ca2+)

(i) Test with ammonium oxalate. A white precipitate of calcium oxalate is Presence of Ca2+ is confirmed.
A few drops of ammonium hydroxide formed.
and ammonium oxalate solution were
added to a little of the salt solution.
(ii) Flame test
A small quantity of the salt was made
into a paste with a few drops of conc. Brick red colour is imparted to the Presence of Ca2+ is confirmed.
HCl on a watch glass. A little of the flame.
paste was brought into a non- luminous
Bunsen flame using a burnt
splinter.
Confirmatory tests for group VI cation (Mg2+)

(i) Ash Test Pink tinted ash (MgO.CoO) is formed. Presence of Mg2+ is confirmed.
A little of the salt was acidified with
conc. HNO3 and cobalt nitrate solution.
A folded filter paper soaked in this
solution was burnt to ashes.

(ii) Test with Magneson Reagent.

(Nitrophenyl azo resorcinol)

A few drops of sodium hydroxide A blue precipitate is formed. Presence of Mg2+ is confirmed.
solution and magneson reagent
were added to a little of the salt
solution
VII. RESULT:
The given salt contains--------------- as cation

VIII. FINAL REPORT

The given salt contains ------------------ as anion and--------------- as cation.

∴ The given salt is ------------------------------------ .

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