A n c h o r e d In E x c e lle n c e

Salt analysis
Aim: analyse the given salt to identify the cation and anion in it.

Experiment Observation Inference

Preliminary Tests
1. Color of the salt is noted White solid Absence of Cu2+, Fe2+, Fe3+, Co2+,
Ni2+, Mn2+etc.
2. Odour of the salt is noted Ammoniacal smell NH4+ ions may present.
Vinegar like smell CH3COO- may present
No characteristic smell Absence of NH4+ ions and
CH3COO-
3. Flame Test: Make a paste of Apple green flame Barium salts may be present
the salt with concentrated
HCl in a watch glass and Brick red flame Calcium salts may be present
introduce it into non-
luminous flame. Crimson red flame Strontium salts may be present

Test for anions

Experiment Observation Inference

1. To little of the given salt - Effervescence of colorless gas
(solid – dry salt) add dil. H2SO4 which turns limewater milky CO32- May be present

- Vinegar like smell CH3COO- ions may present


- Rotten egg smell (H2S) S-2 ions may present

No characteristic change Absence of CO32-, CH3COO- and S2-

2. To little of the given salt add A colorless pungent smelling gas Cl- ions may present.
conc. H2SO4 and warm the which produces a dense white
mixture gently. fume with a glass rod dipped in
ammonia solution


(b) Add a small piece of paper A red brown gas is evolved NO3- ions may present
ball/ copper turning into the when the paper ball was
above mixture introduced.

No characteristic change Absence of Cl-, Br-, I- and NO3-
ions

3. To little of salt solution add A dense white ppt which is SO42- ions are confirmed
dilute HCl and Barium chloride insoluble in conc. HCl
solution If no whit ppt, then write
No characteristic change Absence of SO42- ions

4. To the little of salt add 2-3 Yellow ppt/ coloration PO43- may present.
drops of conc. HNO3 and then
add few drops ammonium No characteristic change Absence of PO4 3- ions
molybdate solution.

Confirmatory tests for anions (Wet Tests – salt solution is used)

Carbonate (CO32-)

Experiment Observation Inference

a. To a little of salt solution White ppt which dissolves in dilute CO3 2- ions confirmed.
add aq. Barium chloride hydrochloric acid

b. To a little of salt solution A white ppt is formed CO3 2- ions confirmed.
add aq. MgSO4 (aq) and
heat the mixture

Acetate ions (CH3COO-)
a. To a little of salt solution and Red color appears with FeCl3 and
neutral FeCl3 solution. Dilute reddish-brown precipitate on boiling Acetate ion confirmed
the solution with 2-3 ml of
water.

b. Heat a pinch of the salt with a A fruity smell is produced Acetate ion confirmed
few drops of Conc. H2SO4 and
little ethanol

Chloride (Cl-)
a. To a little of salt solution add A white ppt formed which dissolves in Cl- ions confirmed
dilute nitric acid and silver excess of ammonium hydroxide
nitrate solution solution.

b. To a little of salt solution add White ppt which dissolves in boiled Cl- ions confirmed
dilute nitric acid and lead water
nitrate solution

c. Chromyl chloride: To little if Red fumes are produced Cl- ions confirmed
salt solution add equal quantity
of solid potassium dichromate
and few drops of concentrated
H2SO4

Nitrate (NO3-)
a. To a little of salt solution add A brown ring formed at the junction NO3 – ions confirmed
equal amount of freshly of two liquids
prepared FeSO4 solution and
then add conc. H2SO4 through
the sides of the test tube.

Phosphate ion (PO4 3-)
a. To the salt add 1-2 ml of
conc. HNO# and heat it. Add yellow ppt is formed PO43- ion confirmed
solid ammonium molybdate the
hot solution and heat again
A white ppt
b. To little of the salt solution Ppt dissolves in dil. HCl
add NH4OH solution till it PO43- ion confirmed
becomes alkaline. Add a
solution of CaCl2

Result: The anion present in the given salt is: ……………………………………………………………………………………….

Test for cations

Experiment Observation Inference

Flame Test: Make a paste of the Apple green Ba2+ ions may present
mixture with conc. HCl in a
watch glass and introduce into a Brick Red Ca2+ ions may present
non-luminous flame
Crimson Red Sr2+ ions may present
GROUP ANALYSIS
Preparation of O.S. – Dissolve 5g of salt into distilled water. Shake well to make a clear solution.
Group 0 – To the salt solution No ppt. NH4+ ions may present.
(O.S.)add Na2CO3 solution
All carbonates other than NH4+
and group I ions are insoluble.
Group I – To O.S. add dil. HCl White ppt Group I cation precipitated as
chlorides (PbCl2)
No characteristic ppt Absence of Pb2+
Group II – To O.S. add HCl and A black ppt Cu2+ ions may present
pass H2S gas (You may use the
solution in group I, if no ppt was A yellow ppt As3+ ions may present
formed)
No characteristic ppt Absence of Cu2+, As3+

Group III – To O.S. add solid A white gelatinous ppt. Al3+ may present
NH4Cl and excess NH4OH
solution A brown ppt Fe3+ may present
Fe3+ + OH- à Fe(OH)3

No characteristic ppt Absence of Al3+ and Zn2+
Group IV – To O.S. add NH4Cl Dirty white ppt Presence of Group IV – Zn2+
solid and NH4OH till the
solution smells ammoniacal. Buff or light pink colored ppt Presence of Group IV – Mn2+
Pass H2S gas
A black ppt is formed Presence of Group IV – Ni2+,Co2+

No characteristic ppt Absence of Zn2+, Mn2+ , Ni2+
Group V – To O.S. add NH4Cl White ppt Presence of Ca2+, Ba2+ and Sr2+
solid and NH4OH till the solution
smells ammoniacal. Add
(NH4)2CO3 solution No characteristic ppt Absence of Ca2+, Ba2+ and Sr2+
Group VI – To the O.S add solid A white ppt is formed Presence of Mg2+ ions
NH4Cl, excess NH4OH solution
till the solution smells ammonia
and add ammonium dihydrogen
phosphate solution. Scratch the
inner sides of the test tube with
a glass rod if necessary
Confirmatory tests for cations
Experiment Observation Inference
Ammonium ion (NH4+)
a. Take about 0.1 g of salt in a A gas is evolved which has a NH4+ ions confirmed
test tube and add 1-2 mL of smell of ammonia
NaOH solution to it and heat. Dense white fumes observed on
Bring a glass rod dipped in the glass rod.
hydrochloric acid
near the mouth of the test tube.

b. Take 0.1 g of salt in a test A brown ppt is formed NH4+ ions confirmed
tube and add 1-2 mL of NaOH
solution to it and heat. Pass the
gas into Nessler’s reagent

Lead Ions (Pb2+)
a. To about 2ml of O.S., add A yellow ppt Pb2+ ions confirmed
potassium iodide solution.

b. To about 2 ml of O.S. add A yellow ppt soluble in NaOH Pb2+ ions confirmed
potassium chromate solution solution and insoluble in

ammonium acetate solution is

Aluminium Ion (Al3+) formed
a. To about 2 ml of O.S. add Al3+ ions confirmed
sodium hydroxide solution and A white gelatinous precipitate
warm soluble in excess of sodium
hydroxide solution
Al3+ ions confirmed
b. Blue Lake test: To about 2 ml A blue mass floating on
of O.S. add litmus paper. Add colorless liquid is observed
ammonium hydroxide solution
drop by drop till solution
become alkaline

Zinc ions (Zn2+)
a. To about 2 ml of OS Add White precipitate soluble Zn2+ ion confirmed
sodium hydroxide solution in excess of sodium hydroxide
solution

b. To about 2 ml of OS add few A bluish white precipitate Zn2+ ion confirmed
drops of ammonium hydroxide Appears.
solution and add potassium
ferrocyanide solution.

Group V cations should be
followed in BSC order (Ba2+, Sr2+
and Ca2+ order)

Barium ions (Ba2+)
To about 2 ml of O.S. add Yellow ppt Ba2+ confirmed
potassium chromate solution

About 1g of the salt is made Grassy green flame Ba2+ confirmed
into a paste with concentrated
HCl and shown to a non-
luminous flame

Strontium ions (Sr2+)

To about 2 ml of O.S. add White ppt Sr2+ ions confirmed
potassium chromate solution

Make a paste of the salt with Crimson red flame Sr2+ ions confirmed
concentrated HCl in a watch
glass and introduce it into non-
luminous flame

Calcium ions (Ca2+)

T about 2 ml of the O.S. add A white ppt is formed Ca2+ ions confirmed
ammonium oxalate solution and
shake well.

Make a paste of the salt with Brick red flame is observed Ca2+ ions confirmed
concentrated HCl in a watch
glass and introduce it into non-
luminous flame