SALT ANALYSIS

PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION
EXPERIMENT OBSERVATION INFERENCE
1 Colour and appearance of the a) Colourless Absence of salt of Fe, Co, Ni, Mn …
salt is noted b) Pink Presence of salt of Fe, Co, Ni, Mn …
2 Solubility of the salt is noted Soluble May be due to the NH
3 Action of heat a) Smell of ammonia vapours May be due to NH
A little of the salt is heated in were evolved
a dry test tube b) Reddish brown fumes May be due to Nitrate
were evolved
c) Smell of vinegar was May be due to Acetate
evolved
4 Flame test
A little of salt is made into a a) Pale green flame Presence of Barium
paste with con. HCl and b) Brick red flame Presence of Calcium
introduced to non-luminous c) Crimson red flame Presence of Strontium
flame
SYSTEMATIC ANALYSIS OF ANIONS
1 Action of dil. HCl a) Smell of rotten egg Presence of Sulphide
A little of the salt is treated b) Brisk effervescence Presence of Carbonate
with dil. HCl with a colourless odourless CaCO3+2HCl→CaCl2+CO2+H2O
gas turning lime water milky Ca(OH)2+CO2→CaCO3+H2O
2 Action of dil. H2SO4
A little of the salt is rubbed Smell of vinegar Presence of Acetate
with dil H2SO4 2CH3COONa+H2SO4→NaSO4+2CH3
COOH
3 Action of conc.H2SO4 a) Colourless gas turning Presence of Chloride
A little of the salt is treated dense white when a glass rod NaCl+H2SO4→NaHSO4+HCl
with conc. H2SO4 dipped in NH4OH is shown
to the mouth of the test tube
b) Reddish brown vapours Presence of Bromide
NaBr+H2SO4→NaHSO4+HBr
H2SO4+2HBr→SO2+Br2+2H2O

4 Action of conc. H2SO4 and

paper ball Reddish brown fumes Presence of Nitrate
A little of the salt is treated KNO3+H2SO4→KHSO4+HNO3
with conc. H2SO4 it is heated 4HNO3+C→4NO2+CO2+2H2O
then paper ball is added.
5 Action of BaCl2
A little of the salt solution is a) White ppt. insoluble in dil. presence of Sulphate
acidified with dil.HCl and HCl Na2SO4+BaCl2→BaSO4+NaCl
BaCl2 solution is added b) White ppt. soluble in dil. Presence of Carbonate
HCl BaCl2+Na2CO3→BaCO3+2NaCl
CONFIRMATORY TEST FOR CARBONATE
1 A little of the salt solution is A white ppt. soluble dil. HCl Presence of Carbonate is confirmed
treated with BaCl2 is formed BaCl2+Na2CO3→BaCO3+2NaCl

2 A little of the salt solution is A white ppt. is obtained Presence of carbonate is confirmed
treated with MgSO4 MgSO4+NaCO3→MgCO3+Na2SO4
 CONFIRMATORY TESTS FOR ACETATE
1 A little of the salt A deep red colouration is Presence of Acetate is confirmed
solution is treated with obtained. It is diluted with
neutral FeCl3 water and heated. A red FeCl3+3CH3COONa→(CH3COO)3Fe+3NaCl
ppt. is formed
2 A little of the salt Vinegar smell is obtained Presence of Acetate is confirmed
solution is treated with 2CH3COONa+H2C4O4→Na2C2O4+2CH3CO
oxalic acid OH

CONFIRMATORY TEST FOR CHLORIDE

1 A little of the salt A white curdy ppt. soluble Presence of Chloride is confirmed
solution is treated with in NH4OH solution AgNO3+NaCl→AgCl+NaNO3
dil. HNO3 and AgNO3
solution is added
2 Chromyl chloride test Presence of Chloride is confirmed
A little of the salt is Reddish brown vapours 4NaCl+K2Cr2O7+3H2SO4→2CrO2Cl2+3H2O
mixed with potassium
dichromate and conc.
H2SO4 and heated

CONFIRMATORY TEST FOR NITRATE

1 Brown ring test A brown ring is Presence of nitrate is confirmed
To a little of the salt formed at the junction KNO3+H2SO4→KHSO4+HNO3
solution add freshly of two layers 6FeSO4+3H2SO4+2HNO3→3Fe2(SO4)3+4H2O+2NO
prepared FeSO4 is FeSO4+NO+5H2O→[Fe(NO)(H2O)5]SO4
added along the sides
of the test tube
2 Action of Cu powder Brown gas is formed Presence of nitrate is confirmed
A little of salt is 2KNO3+H2SO4→K2SO4+2HNO3
treated with conc. 4HNO3+Cu→Cu(NO3)2+2NO2+2H2O
H2SO4 and Cu powder
is added and heated
3 A few drops of Deep blue colouration Presence of Nitrate is confirmed
diphenylamine added is obtained
to the salt solution

CONFIRMATORY TEST FOR SULPHATE

1 Action of lead acetate A white ppt. is Presence of Sulphate is confirmed
A little of the salt obtained Na2SO4+Pb(CH3COO)2→PbSO4+2CH3COONa
solution is treated with
lead acetate solution
2 A little of the salt A white ppt. insoluble Presence of Sulphate is confirmed
solution is acidified in dil. HCl is obtained Na2SO4+BaCl2→BaSO4+2NaCl
with dil. HCl and
BaCl2 solution is
added
 ANALYSIS OF CATIONS
TESTS FOR ZERO GROUP
1 Action of NaOH Smell of ammonia Presence of NH is confirmed
A little of the salt solution got NH4Cl+NaOH→NaCl+H2O+NH3
is treated with Na OH
solution
2 Action of Na2CO3 No white ppt. is Presence of NH is confirmed
A little of the salt solution obtained
is treated with Na2CO3
solution
3 Action of Nessler’s A chocolate brown Presence of NH is confirmed
reagent ppt. is formed 2K2[Hgl4]+NH3+3KOH→H2N.HgO.Hgl+7Kl+2H2O
To a little of the salt
solution add Nessler’s
reagent
PRELIMINARY ANALYSIS OF GROUPS
1 To the salt solution add White ppt. is obtained May be due to group I
dil. HCl.
2 To the salt solution add a) A black ppt. is got May be due to Copper Group II
dil. HCl and pass H2S b) A yellow ppt. is got May be due to Cadmium
3 To the salt solution add a) A gelatinous white ppt. May be due to Aluminum Group III
NH4OH and NH4Cl b) aA brown ppt. May be due to Iron
4 To the salt solution add a) A black ppt. May be due to Nickel
NH4OH, NH4Cl and pass b) A dirty white ppt. May be due to Zinc Group IV
H2S c) Fleshy coloured ppt. May be due to Manganese

5 To the salt solution add A white ppt. is obtained May be due to group V
NH4OH, NH4Cl and
(NH4)2CO3
6 To the salt solution add A white ppt. May be due to group Vl
NH4OH, NH4Cl and
disodium hydrogen
phosphate
ANALYSIS OF GROUP-I (LEAD)
1 To a little of the salt Yellow ppt. Presence of Lead is confirmed
Solution add potassium PbCl2+K2CrO4→PbCrO4+2KCl
chromate solution
2 To a little of the solution A yellow ppt. soluble in Presence of lead is confirmed
add Kl hot water and reappeared PbCl2+2Kl→Pbl2+2KCl
as golden spangles on
cooling
ANALYSIS OF GROUP-II
TESTS FOR COPPER
1 To the salt solution add Pale blue ppt. which Presence of Copper is confirmed
NH4OH solution in dissolved to from deep Cu(NO3)+4NH4OH→[Cu(NH4)[NO3]2+4H2O
excess blue solution
2 To the salt solution add A chocolate brown ppt. Presence of Copper is confirmed
acetic acid and potassium is formed 2CuSO4+K4[Fe(CN)6]→Cu2[Fe(CN)6]+2K2SO4
ferrocyanide solution
If the precipitate is yellow
TEST FOR CADMIUM
1 The yellow ppt. of the Yellow ppt. is dissolved Presence of Cadmium confirmed
group II treated with 50%
HNO3 and heated
2 Add NH4OH to the above A white ppt. was got Presence of Cadmium confirmed
solution which dissolved in excess
of NH4OH solution
ANALYSIS OF GROUP-III
TEST FOR ALUMINIUM
1 To the NaOH solution is A white gelatinous ppt. Presence of Aluminium is confirmed
added in drops to excess soluble in excess NaOH
2 ASH TEST Blue ash is formed Presence of Aluminium is confirmed
A little of the salt solution (Thenards Blue)
is mixed with few drops
of conc. HNO3 and cobalt
nitrate solution added in
drops. A filter paper is
soaked in the solution is
burned
ANALYSIS OF GROUP-IV
TEST FOR ZINC
1 NaOH is added in drops White ppt. dissolved in Presence of Zn2+ is confirmed
and then in excess to the excess reagent ZnCl+2NaOH→Zn(OH)2+2H2O
salt solution
2 Potassium ferrocyanide White ppt. Presence of Zn2+ is confirmed
solution is added to the 2ZnCl2+K4[Fe(CN)6]→Zn2[Fe(CN)6]+4KCl
salt solution
3 ASH TEST Green ash is formed Presence of Zn2+ is confirmed

TEST FOR MANGANESE

1 NaOH solution is A white ppt. is got Presence of Mn2+ confirmed
added to the salt MnCl2+2NaOH→Mn(OH)2+2NaCl
solution
2 The IV group ppt. A pink colour is Presence of Mn2+ confirmed
of Mn2+ is dissolved formed MnS+2HNO3→Mn(NO3)2+H2S
in HNO3 and add 2Mn(NO3)2+5PbO2+6HNO3→2HMnO4+5Pb(NO3)2+2H2O
PbO2 to the solution
 ANALYSIS OF GROUP-V
GROUP V PPT. IS DISSOLVED IN ACETIC ACID AND DIVIDED INTO 3 PORTIONS
TEST FOR Ba2+
1 To one potion add Yellow ppt. Presence of Ba2+ confirmed
potassium chromate (CH3COO)2Ba+K2CrO4→2CH3COOK+BaCrO4
solution
2 A little of the salt is a) Pale green flame Presence of Ba2+ confirmed
made into a paste b) Crimson flame Presence of Sr2+ confirmed
with conc. HCl and c) Brick red flame Presence of Ca2+ confirmed
is introduced to a
non-luminous flams
3 To the second a) A white ppt. was Presence of Ba2+ confirmed
portion add CaSO4 formed immediately
solution b) Scanty white ppt. Presence of Sr2+ confirmed
slowly formed Sr2++CaSO4→SrSO4+Ca2+
c) No white ppt. Presence of Ca2+ confirmed
4 To the third portion A white ppt. Presence of Ca2+ confirmed
add ammonium (CH3COO)2Ca+(NH4)2C2O4→
oxalate solution 2CH3COONH4+CaC2O4
ANALYSIS OF GROUP-VI
TEST FOR MAGNESIUM
1 Two drop of magneson reagent Blue ppt. is Presence of Mg2+ confirmed
and 2mL NaOH solution is formed
added to the solution
2 To a little of salt add conc. Pink coloured ash Presence of Mg2+ confirmed
HNO3 and cobalt nitrate
solution and ash test is
performed