SYSTEMATIC ANALYSIS OF SIMPLE INORGANIC SALTS.

Analysis of a salt involves four steps which are as follows:

1) Preliminary test
2) Detection of anion ( Acid radical )
3) Detection of cation ( Basic radical )
4) Report of salt or Result

I. Preliminary Tests :
a) State : Crystalline or Amorphous
b) Colour : White / Colourless, light green( Fe2+), Blue(Cu2+), Pale pink (Mn2+)
c) Solubility: Solubility of a given salt is tested by using the following
solvents.

Water
Dil.HCl

II. Analysis of Acid Radicals (Anions) :

Group Group Reagent Radicals

1 Dil. HCl CO32-, HCO3-

2 conc.H2SO4 Cl-, Br-, NO3-

3 No specific reagent SO42-

1) Analysis of 1 group acid radicals :

EXPERIMENT OBSERVATION INFERENCE

Test for CO32- : Reaction takes place 1st group acid radicals
Salt+dil.HCl with brisk present
effervescence with CO32- may be present
liberation of colourless
and odourless gas
2-
Confirmatory test for CO3 (Lime water test) :

Salt + Water, Heat and Lime water does not CO32- is confirmed
pass the liberated gas turns milky
through lime water.
2) Analysis of 2nd group acid radicals:

EXPERIMENT OBSERVATION INFERENCE

Salt + conc. H2SO4 in Vigorous reaction with, 2ndgroup acid
dry test tube 1) Colourless gas radicals present
evolved with
white fumes
which produces Cl – may be present
dense white
fumes when glass
rod dipped in
NH4OH and held
to the mouth of
the test tube. Br-may be present
2) Reddish brown
fumes are evolved Cl- & Br- absent
3) No vigorous
reaction

Test for NO3- radical: a) Reddish brown

Salt+ Conc. H2SO4, Heat fumes are NO3- may be present
evolved which
gets deepens on
adding copper
turnings and the
solution
becomes blue
NO3-is absent
b) No reddish
brown fumes
-
Confirmatory test for Cl ( silver nitrate test):

Salt solution + AgNO3 Curdy white ppt. Cl- is confirmed

solution which is soluble in
excess of NH4OH
-
Confirmatory test for Br (silver nitrate test):

Salt solution + dil. A pale yellow ppt. Br- is confirmed

HNO3+ AgNO3 solution which is sparingly
soluble in excess of
NH4OH
Confirmatory test for NO3- ( Brown ring test):

Salt solution + equal A brown ring is NO3- is confirmed

volume of freshly formed at the junction
prepared FeSO4 of two liquids
solution+ few drops of
 conc.H2SO4 is added
slowly along the sides
of test tube

3) Analysis of 3rd group acid radicals:

Test for Sulphate ion ( SO42-) :

EXPERIMENT OBSERVATION INFERENCE

Salt solution+ BaCl2 A thick white 3rd group acid radicals
solution precipitate is formed present
To the above
precipitate add excess Precipitate is insoluble SO42- May be present
of dil.HCl
Confirmatory test for SO42- :

Salt solution + acetic White precipitate is SO42- is confirmed

acid + lead acetate obtained
solution

III. Analysis of Basic radicals ( Cations) :

Preparation of Original Solution (OS):

The original solution is prepared by dissolving the salt in the solvent in which the salt is
soluble. About half test tube of solvent is taken and the salt is added little by little with
constant shaking until a saturated clear homogeneous solution is obtained. Always use 3 to
4 drops of original solution for the detection of basic radicals.

Classsification of cations (Basic Radicals):

Group No. Group reagent Radicals

0 No reagent NH4+
1 dil.HCl Pb2+
2 dil.HCl+H2S Pb2+, Cu2+, As3+
3 NH4Cl + NH4OH Al3+
4 NH4Cl + NH4OH +H2S Mn2+,Zn2+
5 NH4Cl + NH4OH + Ba2+, Ca2+, Sr2+
(NH4)2CO3
6 NH4Cl + NH4OH + Mg2+
(NH4)HPO4

Analysis of 0th group basic radicals

EXPERIMENT OBSERVATION INFERENCE

Salt+ dil. NaOH Pungent smelling gas 0th group basic
 solution + Heat. NH3 is evolved radicals present.
NH4 + may be present
Confirmatory test for Ammonium ion ( Nessler`s reagent test)

OS + Nessler`s reagent Brown coloured NH4+ is confirmed.

+ NaOH ( slight excess) precipitate is formed.

Analysis of 1st group basic radicals

OS+ dil.HCl No white precipitate 1st group basic radicals

absent
Analysis of 2nd group basic radicals

OS + dil.HCl + H2S No precipitate 2nd group basic

solution radicals absent
Analysis of 3rd group basic radicals

EXPERIMENT OBSERVATION INFERENCE

OS + solid NH4Cl, A gelatinous white 3rd group basic
Dissolve NH4Cl precipitate is formed radicals present
completely and add Al3+ may be present
NH4OH Solution
Confirmatory test for (Al3+)

OS + dil. NaOH A white gelatinous

solution precipitate soluble in
excess of sodium
hydroxide. Al3+ is Confirmed
The white gelatinous
To the clear solution precipitate reappears
add solid NH4Cl and
warm
Analysis of 4th group basic radicals ( Zn2+ , Mn2+ )

EXPERIMENT OBSERVATION INFERENCE

OS + solid NH4Cl, a) White Zn2+ may be present
dissolve NH4Cl precipitate is
completely and add formed
NH4OH solution in b) Buff or brown Mn2+ may be present
excess and add H2S colored
solution precipitate
c) No precipitate 4th group basic
radicals absent
Confirmatory test for Zn2+ ion :

OS + NaOH solution White precipitate

formed and soluble in
Zn2+ is confirmed
 To the clear solution excess of NaOH
add acetic acid and solution
H2S solution White precipitate
reappears

Confirmatory test for Mn2+ ion :

OS + NaOH solution in White precipitate is

excess formed which turns to Mn2+ is confirmed
brown slowly when
exposed to air

Analysis of 5th group basic radicals ( Ba2+ , Ca2+ , Sr2+ )

EXPERIMENT OBSERVATION INFERENCE

OS + solid NH4Cl + White precipitate 5th group basic
excess NH4OH solution formed radicals present
+ (NH4)2CO3 solution Ba2+ , Ca2+ , Sr2+ may
be present

Confirmatory test for Barium ( Ba2+) :

1 OS + K2CrO4 A yellow precipitate Ba2+ is present

solution
2 FLAME TEST :
make a paste of An apple green colour Ba2+ is confirmed
salt and conc. HCl is imparted to the
and exposed to flame
non-luminous
flame
Confirmatory test for Strontium ion ( Sr2+ )

1 OS + ( NH4)2SO4 A white precipitate is Sr2+ is present

Solution formed

2 FLAME TEST : Crimson red colour is Sr2+ is Confirmed

make a paste of imparted to the flame
salt and conc. HCl
and exposed to
non-luminous
flame
Confirmatory test for Calcium ion ( Ca2+) :
 1 OS + (NH4)2C2O4 A white precipitate is Ca2+ is present
solution formed

2 FLAME TEST :
make a paste of Brick Red colour is Ca2+ is Confirmed
salt and conc. HCl imparted to the flame
and exposed to
non-luminous
flame

Analysis of 6th group basic radicals ( Mg2+ ) :

EXPERIMENT OBSERVATION INFERENCE

OS + solid NH4Cl + A white crystalline 6th group basic
excess (NH4)2HPO4 precipitate radicals present
Mg2+ may be present

Confirmatory test for Mg2+ :

OS+ dil.NaOH solution White precipitate Mg2+ is confirmed

Result :

Acid Radical present: __________

Basic Radical present: __________
Given salt is: ______________