Flow Charts for Qualitative Analysis

1. A flow chart begins with a box in which all the ions from the unknown are listed. As the flow chart is developed, the boxes always show the current chemical form of the remaining ions. 2. Ions are assumed to be in solution and substances written as compounds are assumed to be insoluble solids. 3. A vertical line drawn down indicates that something is done to the substances in the box. Reagents that are added are written in to the right of the line. The step number from the procedure can be written to the left side of the vertical line, directly across from the reagent or operation. Other operations such as washing, heating, centrifuging, etc. are indicated with abbreviations and are listed in order in which they are performed. 4. A horizontal line indicates that the solid is separated from the supernatant. The solid is taken to the right and the supernatant to the left. 5. Next to the box a very brief description of the substance is noted (eg, wh ppt). 6. If a solid or a solution is divided into two parts, this is indicated by an inverted Y shaped intersection followed by vertical lines, next to which are shown the reagents added to each of the two portions. 7. If a step is repeated, such as a precipitation, centrifuging and separation and the two precipitates and / or supernatants are combined with each other, this is indicated with a diagonal line from just below the first centrifuging to the horizontal line, which is drawn after the repeated procedure. 8. At the point that a confirming test is done, a vertical line is drawn to a circle. In the circle the conclusion about the presence or absence of the ion is given.

List of abbreviations:
C con E 5 ppt T W W2 centrifuge concentrated reagent evaporate heat heat 5 minutes precipitate thioacetamide reagent wash wash twice bl col gn or wh yl blue bk black colorless green gy gray orange rd red white yellow