TEST FOR CATIONS

Group 0 – NH4+ (ammonium): pungent smelling gas;

gives white fumes when a glass
No group reagent rod dipped in conc HCl is brought
Sodium hydroxide test: near mouth of test tube
Salt + NaOH

Confirmatory test: Brown ppt NH4+ confirmed

Nessler's reagent test: to the above
solution,added, Nessler's reagent

Group I – Pb2+ : white ppt Pb2+ may

To the OS added dil HCl present

Confirmatory test:

divided into two parts

To the I part added Potassium iodide yellow ppt confirmed

To the II part added K2CrO4 yellow ppt confirmed

Group II – Cu2+ : black ppt Cu+2 may

Added dil HCl and Na2S to the present
original solution
Yellow ppt As+3 may present
Confirmatory test for Cu2+
Dissolved black ppt in a few drops of
conc HNO3
ppt dissolves; divided into two
parts blue Cu+2 confirmed
1. Added excess NH4OH to part coloured solution
I
Cu+2 confirmed
2. Added acetic acid and reddish brown / chocolate
K4[Fe(CN)6] to Part 2 coloured ppt

Confirmatory test for As+3 As+3

Dissolved yellow ppt in a few drops Light yellow ppt Confirmed
of conc HNO3 . Added Ammonium
Molybdate

Group III – Fe2+, Fe3+ , Al3+ Al3+ may

Gelatinous white ppt present

Added NH4Cl and excess NH4OH to

the original solution
Fe +3 Brown ppt Fe +3 may
present
Confirmatory test:

Dissolved Brown ppt in dilute HCl;

then divided
into two parts Blue ppt / colour Fe +3 confirmed
1. Added K4[Fe(CN)6 ] to Part 1 Fe +3 Confirmed
2. Potassium thiocyanate blood
test: Added KCNS to part 2 red colour

Al3+ Gelatinous white ppt

Confirmatory test: blue colour layer ('lake') Al3+

Blue lake test: Dissolved ppt in dil floats over colourless sol confirmed
HCl sol + blue litmus and
NH4OH (drop-by-drop)

Group IV Co2+ , Ni2+ ,

Mn2+, Zn2+

To the OS added NH4Cl,excess Dull white ppt Zn2+ may

NH4OH and Na2S solution present
Black ppt Co2+ , Ni2+ may
present
Buff coloured Mn2+ may
present

Co2+ / Ni2+: Black ppt;

Confirmatory test:
Dissolve ppt in aqua regia

i) added acetone (1 mL) + blue Co2+

solid NH4CNS colour in acetone Confirmed

ii) For Ni+2: Added solid DMG Rose red ppt Ni2+
and excess NH4OH Confirmed

Zn2+: Greyish white ppt

Confirmatory test: dissolved ppt in
dilute HCl.
divided into two parts
1. to Part 1 added excess NaOH
White ppt or turbidity observed
2. Added to Part 2 , K4[Fe(CN)6]
 white / bluish white ppt Zn2+ confirmed

Group V – Ba2+ , Sr2+, Ca2+

Added NH4Cl , NH4OH and white ppt Ba2+ , Sr2+, Ca2+

(NH4)2CO3 to the os may present

Confirmatory test:

Dissolved the ppt in dil acetic acid,

divided into three parts and test for
following IN ORDER
1. Ba2+: yellow ppt
To the Part 1 added K2CrO4 (aq)

2. Sr2+: to the Part 2 added white ppt

(NH4)2SO4 (aq)

3. Ca2+:to Part 3 added (NH4)2C2O4 white ppt

(aq)

Flame test: Take salt and make 1. Ba2+: Green flame Ba2+ , Sr2+, Ca2+
a paste by mixing with conc HCl. 2. Sr2+: Crimson red flame confirmed
Take paste on tip of glass rod / 3. Ca2+: Brick red flame
platinum wire, and put in Bunsen
burner flame

Group VI –No
group reagent, Mg2+ (magnesium)

Confirmatory test:
To the OS, added NH4Cl + excess Mg2+ confirmed
NH4OH + ammonium phosphate white ppt

TEST FOR ANIONS

Group I (dilute H2SO4 group) – CO32-(carbonate),

SO32- (sulphite), S2-(sulphide),
NO2- (nitrite):
added dil. H2SO4 to the salt Colourless and Carbonate
odourless gas (CO2) may present

Confirmatory test: white ppt CO32-

1.to the Salt solution added MgSO4 confirmed
2.Passed through lime water Turns milky CO32-
 confirmed
SO3 2-

Added dil. H2SO4 to the salt Colourless gas with Sulphite may
pungent smell present

Confirmatory test: white ppt, soluble in dil HCl

added BaCl2 (aq) to the Salt solution
Confirmatory test: Solution turns green Sulphite
added dil.H2SO4 and K2Cr2O7 confirmed
to the Salt solution

Confirmatory test: Pink colour of KMnO4 is Sulphite

To the Salt solution added acidified discharged confirmed
KMnO4

S2-
added dil. H2SO4 to the salt Colourless gas with a Sulphide may
smell of rotten eggs (H2S); present

Confirmatory test purple / violet colour Sulphide

Added sodium nitroprusside confirmed
to the Salt solution

Confirmatory test black ppt Sulphide

To the Salt solution added dil.H2SO4 confirmed
and lead acetate (aq)
NO2-
added dil. H2SO4 to the salt Pungent light brown gas Nitrite may
present
Confirmatory test: deep blue confirmed
Starch-iodide test: to the Salt solution colouration
+ dil H2SO4 (or dil acetic acid); boil,
then add solid KI + fresh
starch sol

Salt + dil. H2SO4 No reaction Group I anion

not present.
Continue to
group II.

Group II (conc H2SO4 group) Cl-(chloride), Br- (bromide),

I- (iodide), NO3- (nitrate),
CH3COO- (acetate), C2O42-
(oxalate):
Salt + conc H2SO4 Colourless white Chloride may
pungent fumes (HCl); intensify present
when glass rod dipped in NH4OH
is brought near mouth of test tube
Confirmatory test: white ppt soluble in Chloride
1. Silver nitrate test: Salt solution + NH4OH confirmed
AgNO3
2. Chromyl chloride test: Salt + orange / red fumes of confirmed
solid K2Cr2O7 + 2-3 drops conc chromyl chloride
H2SO4. Another testtube-Vapours +
NaOH (aq) + acetic yellow ppt
acid + lead acetate sol

Salt + conc H2SO4 Reddish brown vapour Bromide

Confirmatory test: yellow ppt confirmed
Silver nitrate test: SALT SOLUTION partially soluble in NH4OH
+ AgNO3 (aq)
Organic layer test: SALT Upper confirmed
SOLUTION + CCl4 layer aqueous; lower layer
+ 1 drop conc HNO3 organic of orange / brown
colour (bromine is soluble in
non-polar solvent)

Violet vapours Iodide

Salt + conc H2SO4

Confirmatory test: yellow ppt confirmed

Silver nitrate test: SALT SOLUTION insoluble in NH4OH
+
AgNO3 (aq)
Organic layer test: SALT Upper confirmed
SOLUTION + CCl4 layer aqueous; lower layer
+ 1 drop conc HNO3 organic of violet colour (iodine
is soluble in non-polar solvent)

Salt + conc H2SO4 Pungent vapour with Acetate:

vinegar-like smell

. Confirmatory test: fruity smell of confirmed

Ester test: Salt + conc H2SO4 ester
+ ethanol
Confirmatory test: brick red colour confirmed
Ferric chloride test: SALT Add dil HCl , red colour
SOLUTION + Disappears
FeCl3 (aq) Add water and boil ,
reddish brown ppt

Group III anions (special group)

No group reagent SO42- (sulphate),
PO43- (phosphate):

Sulphate: white ppt SO42-confirmed

SALT SOLUTION + HCl © + insoluble in dil.HNO3
BaCl2 (aq)

. SALT SOLUTION + lead white ppt soluble in confirmed

acetate (aq) + acetic acid CH3COONH4 (ammonium
acetate)

Phosphate: crystalline canary yellow ppt confirmed

SALT SOLUTION + dil HNO3 +

ammonium molybdate