SCHEME OF SALT ANALYSIS

EXPERIMENT OBSERVATION INFERENCE

PRELIMINARY TESTS:

(1) White
1. Colour (2) Bluish green Absence of Cu or Mn salt
(3) Light pink or flesh colour
Presence of Cu salt
Presence of Mn salt

2. Odour (1) Vinegar like smell Presence of acetate ion

(2) Smell of ammonia
Presence of ammonium ion

3. Solubility Soluble in water Absence of carbonates,

Ammonium carbonate may
be present

4. Flame test – make a paste (1) Brick red flame Presence of calcium salt
of the given salt with few (2) Grassy green flame
Presence of barium salt
drops of conc. HCl on a watch (3) Bluish green flame
glass. Show the paste to the (4) Crimson red flame Presence of copper salt
non-luminous flame with the
help of glass rod Presence of strontium salt

5. Ash Test - To the salt 1. Green coloured ash formed 1. Presence of Zinc ions
solution add 2 – 3 drops of confirmed.
2. Blue coloured ash formed
conc. Nitric acid and Cobalt
2. Presence of Aluminium
nitrate solution. Dip a filter 3.Pink coloured ash formed
ions confirmed.
paper in the mixture and burn
it 3. Presence of Magnesium
ions confirmed.

ANALYSIS OF ANIONS:

1. To a little of the salt taken Brisk effervescence Presence of Carbonate ion

in test tube, add few drops CO32-
of dil. H2SO4
CO32- + H2SO4 CO2 + SO42- + H2O

2. To a little of salt taken in a Smell of vinegar Presence of acetate ion

watch glass, add a 2-3
drops of conc. H2SO4.
 Stir with glass rod and -
CH3COO
smell is noted
-
CH3COO + H2SO4
-
HSO4 + CH3COOH

3. To a little of the salt taken (1) Colourless gas with Presence of Chloride ion, Cl-
in test tube, add 1ml of pungent smell evolved,
conc. H2SO4 which gives dense white
fumes when a glass rod
dipped in NH4OH is
shown to the mouth of the
test tube
-
Cl + H2SO4

HCl + NH4OH -
HSO4 + HCl
(2) Reddish brown vapours
with pungent smell, which NH4Cl + H2O
turns starch paper yellow
-
Br + H2SO4
Presence of Bromide ion,
-
Br
2HBr + H2SO4

-
HSO4 + HBr

SO2 + Br2 + 2H2O

4. To a little of the salt taken Reddish brown gas evolved Presence of Nitrate ion,
in test tube, 1ml of conc. NO3-
H2SO4 is added and
-
heated. A paper ball is - HSO4 + HNO3
NO3 + H2SO4
added to this and heated
again 4NO2 + CO2 + 2H2O
4HNO3 + C
(paper ball)

5. To the salt solution, White precipitate, which is Presence of Sulphate ion,

Barium Chloride solution insoluble in dil.HCl is formed SO42-
is added

SO42- + BaCl2 -
BaSO4 + CI

6. To a little of the salt, 1ml Deep Yellow precipitate formed Presence of Phosphate ion,
of conc. HNO3 is added PO43-
and boiled. Then excess
of Ammonium molybdate + (PMo12O40)3- + 12 H2O
PO43- + 12MoO42-+ 24H
solution is added (Canary Yellow ppt)
CONFIRMATORY TEST FOR ANIONS

1) FOR CARBONATE ION, CO32-

1. To a little of the salt White Precipitate formed which Presence of Carbonate ion
solution, 1ml of Barium is soluble in dil.HCl. confirmed.
Chloride solution is added -
2-
BaCO3 + Cl
CO3 + BaCl2

-
2) FOR ACETATE ION, CH3COO

1. To a little of the salt Red blood colour is obtained. Presence of Acetate ion
solution, add neutral Ferric confirmed.
Chloride Solution
- -
CH3COO + FeCl3 Fe(CH3COO)3 + Cl

-
3) FOR CHLORIDE ION, Cl

1. To a little of the salt Curdy white precipitate which is Presence of Chloride ion
solution, add dil Nitric Acid soluble in NH4OH confirmed.
and add silver nitrate
solution - -
Cl + AgNO3 AgCl + NO3

-
4) FOR BROMIDE ION, Br

1. To a little of the salt Light Yellow precipitate which is Presence of Bromide ion
solution, add dil Nitric Acid partially soluble in NH4OH confirmed.
and add silver nitrate
solution - -
Br + AgNO3 AgBr + NO3

-
5) FOR NITRATE ION, NO3

1. Brown ring Test: To the A brown ring of Nitrosoferrous Presence of Nitrate ion
salt solution add 1ml of sulphate formed at the junction confirmed.
freshly prepared ferrous of two liquids
sulphate solution. To this -
mixture, add conc. 2NO3 + H2SO4
Sulphuric Acid drop wise SO42- + 2HNO3
along the sides of the test
tube without shaking 6FeSO4 + 3H2SO4 + 2HNO3
3Fe2(SO4) 3 + 4H2O + 2NO
 FeSO4 + NO
FeSO4.NO
(Brown ring)

6) FOR SULPHATE ION, SO42-

1. To a little of the salt White precipitate formed Presence of Sulphate ion

solution add 1ml of lead confirmed.
acetate solution.
SO42- + Pb(CH3COO)2 PbSO4 + 2CH3COO
-

7) FOR PHOSPHATE ION, PO43-

1. To the salt solution add Violet coloured precipitate Presence of phosphate ion
Cobalt nitrate solution which is soluble in acetic acid is confirmed.
formed

2PO43- + 3Co(NO3)2 -
Co3(PO4)2 + 2NO3

ANALYSIS OF CATIONS:

1. Test for Group Zero Clear solution obtained. Presence of Ammonium Ion
Cations (NH4)+
(If White precipitate obtained-
To a little of salt add absence of NH4+ ions)
Sodium carbonate
+
solution. NH4 + Na2CO3 +
Na + (NH4)2CO3

(water soluble)

2. Test for Group I Cations White precipitate of Lead Presence of Lead Ion
(Pb2+) chloride formed

To a little of salt solution

add dil HCl (Group I Pb2+ + 2HCl
reagent)
PbCl2 + 2H+

3. Test for Group II Cations Black precipitate of Cupric Presence of Cupric Ion
(Cu2+) sulphide formed

To a little of salt solution Cu2+ + H2S

CuS + 2H+
add dil HCl and pass H2S
gas (Group II reagent)
 (Black ppt)

4. Test for Group III White gelatinous precipitate of Presence of Aluminium Ion
Cations (Al3+) Aluminium hydroxide formed

To a little of salt solution Al3+ + 3NH4OH

Al(OH)3 + 3NH4+
add a little solid
Ammonium chloride and (Gelatinous white ppt)
add excess of Ammonium
hydroxide solution (Group
III reagent)
 5. Test for Group IV Dirty white precipitate of Zinc Presence of Zinc Ion
Cations (Zn2+,Mn2+) sulphide formed

To a little of salt solution Zn2+ + H2S

ZnS + 2H+
add a little solid
Ammonium chloride and (Dirty white ppt)
add excess of Ammonium Flesh colour precipitate of
hydroxide solution, and Manganese sulphide formed
pass H2S gas (Group IV Presence of Manganese Ion
reagent)
2+
Mn + H2S
+
MnS + 2H

(Flesh coloured ppt)

6. Test for Group V Cations White precipitate formed Presence of Barium Ion,
(Ba
2+ 2+ 2+
,Sr ,Ca ) Strontium ion or Calcium ion

To a little of salt solution BaCO3 + 2NH4+

Ba2+ + (NH4)2CO3
add a little solid (White ppt)
Ammonium chloride and
add excess of Ammonium +
SrCO3 + 2NH4
hydroxide solution, and Sr2+ + (NH4)2CO3
add Ammonium carbonate (White ppt)
solution (Group V reagent) +
CaCO3 + 2NH4
Ca2+ + (NH4)2CO3
(White ppt)

7. Test for Group VI White precipitate of Magnesium Presence of Magnesium Ion

Cations (Mg )
2+ ammonium phosphate formed
2+ +
To a little of salt solution Mg + HPO42- + NH4 +
Mg(NH4)PO4 + H
add a little solid
Ammonium chloride and (Crystalline white ppt)
add excess of Ammonium
hydroxide solution, and
Disodium hydrogen
phosphate solution.
Scratch inside of the test
tube with a glass rod

CONFIRMATORY TEST FOR CATIONS

1) FOR AMMONIUM ION (NH4)+

1. To a little of the salt

Reddish brown Precipitate Presence of Ammonium Ion
solution, add Nessler’s
formed confirmed.
reagent
2K2HgI4 + NH3 + H2O
HgO.Hg (NH2)I + 2KI
(Brown ppt)
 erer

2) FOR LEAD ION (Pb2+)

1. To a little of the salt Golden yellow precipitate of Presence of Lead ion

solution, Potassium iodide Lead iodide formed confirmed.
solution is added
Pb2+ + 2KI
PbI2 + 2K+
(Yellow ppt)

2. To a little of the salt Yellow Precipitate of Lead Presence of Lead Ion

solution, add Potassium chromate formed confirmed.
chromate solution
Pb2+ + K2CrO4 PbCrO4 + 2K
+

(Bright Yellow ppt)

3) FOR CUPRIC ION (Cu2+)

1. To a little of salt solution Deep Blue solution on adding Presence of Cupric Ion
add Ammonium hydroxide excess of Ammonium hydroxide (Cu2+) confirmed.
solution drop wise to formed.
excess.
Cu2+(aq) + 2NH4OH
Cu(OH)2+2NH4+

(Bluish white ppt)

Cu(OH)2 + 4NH4OH -
[Cu(NH3)4]2++4H2O+2OH
(excess) (Deep blue complex)

2. To a little of the salt Chocolate brown precipitate Presence of Cupric Ion

solution, add Potassium formed (Cu2+) confirmed.
ferro cyanide solution.
2Cu2+(aq) + 2K4Fe(CN)6 Cu[Fe(CN)6]+4K+

3+
4) FOR ALUMINIUM ION (Al )

1. To the above white White gelatinous precipitate Presence of Aluminium Ion

gelatinous precipitate add dissolves in excess of Sodium confirmed.
NaOH solution drop wise hydroxide solution
to excess
Al(OH)3 + NaOH
NaAlO2 + 2H2O
(White gelatinuous ppt)
(Sodium meta aluminate)

2+
5) FOR ZINC ION (Zn )

1. To a little of the salt White precipitate dissolves in Presence of Zinc ions

 solution, add NaOH excess of NaOH. confirmed.
solution drop wise to
excess. Zn2+ + 2NaOH
Zn(OH)2 + 2Na+
(White ppt)
Na2ZnO2 + 2H2O
Zn(OH)2 + 2NaOH
(Soluble Sodium Zincate)
(excess)

2+
6) FOR MANGANESE ION (Mn )

1. To a little of the salt A white precipitate is formed, Presence of Manganese

solution, add excess of which on standing turns to ions confirmed.
NaOH solution, and keep brown colour gradually.
the mixture for 2-3
minutes. Mn2+ + 2NaOH
Mn(OH)2 + 2Na+
(White ppt)
2MnO(OH)2
2Mn(OH)2 + 2 [O]
(Brown ppt)
(Oxidation)

2+
7) FOR BARIUM ION (Ba )

1. To a little of the salt Yellow precipitate of Barium Presence of Barium ions

solution, add 2-3 drops of Chromate formed confirmed.
conc. Acetic acid and add
potassium chromate
Ba2+ + 2CH3COOH (CH3COO)2 Ba +CO2 +H2O
solution

(CH3COO)2 Ba +K2CrO4 Ba CrO4 + 2CH3COOK

(Yellow ppt)

2+
8) FOR STRONTIUM ION (Sr )

1. To a little of the salt White precipitate of Strontium Presence of Strontium ions

solution, add 2-3 drops of sulphate formed confirmed.
conc. Acetic acid and add
Ammonium sulphate
Sr2+ + 2CH3COOH (CH3COO)2 Sr +CO2 +H2O
solution

(CH3COO)2 Sr +(NH4)SO4 SrSO4 + 2CH3COO NH4

(White ppt)

2+
9) FOR CALCIUM ION (Ca )

1. To a little of the salt White precipitate of Calcium Presence of Calcium ions

 solution, add 2-3 drops of oxalate formed confirmed.
conc. Acetic acid and add
Ammonium oxalate Ca2+ + 2CH3COOH
(CH3COO)2 Ca +CO2 +H2O
solution

(CH3COO)2 Ca +(NH4)C2O4
CaC2O4 + 2CH3COO NH4
(White ppt)

2+
10) FOR MAGNESIUM ION (Mg )

1. To a little of the salt Blue precipitate is formed Presence of Magnesium

solution, add Magneson ions confirmed.
reagent and add excess of
NaOH solution

IMPORTANT REAGENTS
Nessler’s reagent – Potassium tetra iodo mercurate II [ K2HgI4 ]
Magneson reagent – Azo violet
Baeyer’s reagent – Alkaline Potassium permanganate
Tollen’s reagent – Ammoniacal Silver nitrate
Aqua regia – 3:1 mixture of conc.HCl + conc.HNO3

GROUP REAGENT FOR CATIONS

Group 0 – Na2CO3
Group I – dil.HCl
Group II – H2S in presence of dil.HCl
Group III – NH4OH in presence of NH4Cl
Group IV - H2S in presence of NH4OH and NH4Cl
Group V – (NH4)2CO3 in presence of NH4OH and NH4Cl