ANALYSIS OF INORGANIC SALTS

GENERAL PROCEUDRE
TEST OBSERVATION INFERENCE
A. PRILIMINARY
1. Colour White Coloured cations like
Cu+2, Fe+3 , Co+2, Ni+2 etc
absent.
2. Odour Ammoniacal odour NH4+1 may be present
Vinegar odour CH3COO-1 may be
present
3. Dry heating test:
A pinch of salt is heated in a
dry test tube.

(a) Gas evolved.
(i) Sublimate formed
(i) Colourless odourless gas is
evolved.
(ii) Colourless gas with rotten
egg odour is evolved.
(iii) Colourless gas with burning
sulphur odour is evolved.
(iv) Colourless gas with chlorine
odour is evolved.
(v) Colourless gas with vinegar
odour is evolved.
(vi) Reddish brown vapours
evolved.
(vii) Violet vapours evolved.
(viii) No particular change is
observed.
(i) White sublimate is formed
CO3-2 may be present
S-2 may be present
SO3-2 may be present
Cl-1 may be present.
CH3COO-1 may be
present.
NO2-1 or Br-1 may be
present.
I-1 may be present
SO4-2 or PO4-3 may be
present.
NH4+1 may be present.

(ii) Black sublimate I-1 may be present.

accompanied by violet
vapours

(j) Residue left behind (i) White residue Pb+2, Cu+2, Zn+2 absent.
(ii) Yellow when hot, white Zn+2 present.
when cold.
(iii) Brown when hot and Yellow Pb+2 present
when cold.
(iv) Black residue Cu+2, CH3COO-1 present.
4. Test for solubility: A pinch Salt dissolves in water Nitrate salt may be
of salt is shaken with excess present OR NH4+1 may
distilled H2O be present

5. Test for Group I anions. Brisk effervescence of a colourless gas Group I anions, CO3-2
Salt + dil H2SO4 is seen.
Group I anions absent
No Brisk effervescence (SO3-2, S-2, CO3-2 )
5. Test for Group II anions: (i) Colourless pungent gas with Cl-1 may be present
Salt + Conc. H2SO4+ heat chlorine odour is liberated.

(ii) Colourless gas with vinegar odour CH3COO-1 may be

is liberated present

(iii) Reddish brown gas is liberated Br-1 or NO3-1 may be

present

(iv) Violet vapours liberated I-1 may be present

Group II anions absent.
No gas is liberated (Cl–, Br–,I-1 CH3COO–,
NO3–1 )
B. Confirmatory tests for Acid radicals

1. Confirmatory Test for CO3-

2
radical: A white ppt is formed. Ppt dissolve in CO3 -2 confirmed.
BaCl2 Test: Aqueous salt conc. HCl with brisk effervescence
solution + BaCl2 aq.

EQUATION: CO3-2 + BaCl2 → BaCO3 (white ppt) + 2Cl-1

BaCO3 + 2HCl → BaCl2 + CO2 (brisk effervescence) + H2O

2. Confirmatory test for Cl-1

(a) AgNO3 test: Aqueous salt White ppt is formed. The ppt. dissolved Cl-1 confirmed.
solution + AgNO3 in excess NH3

(b) MnO2 Test: Salt + MnO2 Greenish yellow gas of Cl2 is liberated
(solid) + Conc. H2SO4 + ∆ and the gas turns wet starch iodide
paper blue
Equations: (a) AgNO3 + Cl-1 → AgCl ( white ppt) + NO3-1
& AgCl + 2NH3 → [Ag(NH3)2]+1 + Cl-1
(White ppt) Clear solution.

(b) 2Cl-1 + MnO2 + H2SO4 (conc) Heat

→
Cl2 ( greenish yellow gas) + MnSO4 + H2O

3. Confirmatory test for

CH3COO-1 :

(a) FeC3Test: Salt solution + Red ppt is formed.

FeCl3 solution + Heat. CH3COO-1 conformed.

(b) Esterification test:

Salt solution + Few mL of Fruity Odour
ethanol + 2 to 3 drops conc.
H2SO4. Heat it in water bath.

Equations:
(a) 6 CH3COO–1 + 3Fe3+ + 2H2O →[Fe3 (OH)2 (CH3COO)6 ]+1 + 2H+1
 [Fe3 (OH)2 (CH3COO)6 ]+1 + 4H2O →3[Fe (OH)2 (CH3COO)] + 3CH3COOH + H+1
Red ppt

(b)CH3COOH + C2H5OH Conc . H 2→SO 4+heat CH3COOC2H5 + H2O

(Ester – Fruity odour)
4. Confirmatory test for
NO3-1 :
(a) Cu metal test: Salt + Cu Reddish brown gas is liberated and the
turnings + Conc. H2SO4 + heat solution turns blue. NO3-1 confirmed

(b) Brown ring test: Aq. salt

solution+ Fresh FeSO4 solution Brown ring is formed at the junction of
+ Conc. H2SO4 from inner side two layers
of the test tube
EQUATIONS: (a) NO3-1 + H2SO4 (conc) heat
→
HNO3 + HSO4-1
HNO3 + Cu heat Cu(NO3)2 + NO2 ( brown gas) + O2
→

Cu(NO3) 2 + H2SO4 heat

→
2HNO3 + CuSO4 ( blue solution )

(b) NO3-1 + 3Fe+2 → NO + 3Fe+2 & [Fe(H2O)6]SO4 + NO → [Fe(H2O)5NO]SO4

(Brown ring)

5. Confirmatory test for Br-1

(a) AgNO3 Test: Salt solution + Pale yellow ppt partially B-1 confirmed.
AgNO3 solution. soluble in NH4OH.

(b) MnO2 Test: Salt + MnO2 Reddish brown vapours

solid + conc. H2SO4 . Warm. evolved

Equations: (a) AgNO3 + Br-1 → AgBr (pale yellow ppt) + NO3-1

(b) 2Br-1 + MnO2 + H2SO4 (conc.) Heat

→
Br2 ( Reddish brown vapour) + MnSO4 + H2O

6. Confirmatory test for I-1 :

_____________________________________ Yellow ppt insoluble in
(a) AgNO3 Test: Salt solution + NH4OH. I-1 confirmed.
AgNO3 solution.
Violet vapours evolved
(b) MnO2 Test: Salt + MnO2
solid + conc. H2SO4 . Warm.

Equations: (a) AgNO3 + I-1 → AgI (yellow ppt) + NO3-1

(b) 2I-1 + MnO2 + H2SO4 (conc.) Heat

→
I2 ( Violet vapours) + MnSO4 + H2O

CONFRIMATROY TESTS FOR INDEPENDET ANIONS (PHSOPHATE & SULPHATE)

7. Confirmatory test for PO4-3
Aqueous salt solution + HNO3
boil + Ammonium Molybdate. Canary yellow ppt is formed PO4-3 confirmed.
Boil.

EQUATION:
PO4-3 + 3HNO3 → H3PO4 + 3NO3-1
H3 PO4 + 12 (NH4 )2 MoO4 + 21 HNO3 → (NH4 )3 [P (Mo3O10)4 ] + 21NH4NO3 + 12H2O
Canary yellow precipitate

8. Confirmatory test for SO4-2

BaCl2 Test: Aqueous salt
solution + BaCl2 solution White ppt.is formed. Ppt is insoluble in SO4-2 confirmed.
dil HCl
EQUATION: SO4-2 + BaCl2 → 2Cl-1 + BaSO4 ( white ppt insoluble in dil HCl)

C. Tests for Basic Radicals

Preparation of Original Solution (O.S): Dissolve the salt in distilled water to prepare Original
Solution.

1. Flame Test: Make a past (i) Bluish white colour is imparted Pb+2 present.
of salt in conc. HCl and
introduce it to the blue (ii) Red colour is imparted to the Ca+2 or Sr+2 present.
flame of the Bunsen Burner flame.

(iii) Apple green colour is imparted to Ba+2 present.

the flame.

(iv) No particular colour is imparted to NH4+1 / Al+3 / Zn+2 /

the flame Mg+2 may be present.

2. Test for Group Zero (i) Colourless gas with ammoniacal odour Group zero radical,
(a) O.S + NaOH, Heat. is liberated. Gas turns moist red litmus NH4+1 present.
blue
(ii) NH3(g) not released NH4+1 absent

3. Test for Group 1 (i) White ppt of PbCl2 is formed (i) Pb2+ Present.
radicals:
O. S + dil HCl
(ii) No ppt is formed Pb+2 Absent

4. Test for Group 2 (i) Black ppt of PbS is formed. (i) Pb2+  Present.
radicals:
O. S + dil HCl + H2S
(ii) No ppt is formed
(i) Pb2+  absent
5. Test for Group 3 (i) White ppt of Al(OH)3 is formed Al+3 present.
radicals:
O. S + NH4 Cl solid + shake
well to dissolve the solid + (ii) No white ppt is formed Al+3 absent.
NH4OH solution
6. Test for Group 4 (i) White ppt of ZnS is formed. Zn+2 present
radicals:
O. S + NH4 Cl solid + shake (ii) No ppt formed Group 4 radicals absent
well to dissolve the solid +
NH4OH solution + H2S gas

7. Test for Group 5

radicals:
O. S + NH4 Cl solid + shake
well to dissolve the solid +
NH4OH solution + (NH4)2CO3
solution
(i) White ppt of (BaCO3 / SrCO3 /CaCO3) is Ba+2 / Sr+2/ Ca+2
formed. present.
(ii) No ppt is formed Group 5 radicals
absent.

8. Test for Group 6

radicals:
If group–V is absent then
perform the test for Mg2+
ions as given below.

O. S + NH4 Cl solid + shake White ppt of Magnesium ammonium Mg confirmed.

well to dissolve the solid + phosphate, Mg(NH4)PO4 is formed.
NH4OH solution + (NH4)2CO3
solution
+ Na2HPO4 solution.

EQUATION: Mg2+ + Na2HPO4 →Mg (NH4 )PO4 + NH4OH + 2Na+ + H2O

D. CONFIRMATORY TESTS FOR CATIONS

1. Confirmatory test for
NH4+1: NH4+1 confirmed.
O.S + Nessler’s reagent, Reddish brown ppt is formed.
{ K2 [HgI4] }+ KOH

Equation:
2K2[ HgI4] + 5 KOH + NH4+1 → HgO.NH2 .HgI + 7 KI + H2O
(Brown ppt)

2. Confirmatory test for

Pb+2

(a) KI Test: O.S + KI (aq) Yellow ppt of PbI2 is formed

(b) K2CrO4 Test:
O.S + K2CrO4 solution
Pb+2 confirmed
Equation: Pb+2 + 2 KI → PbI2 + 2K+
Yellow ppt of PbCrO4 is formed.
Equation: Pb+2 + K2CrO4→ PbCrO4+ 2K+
3. Confirmatory Test for
Al+3 : Blue lake is formed. Al+3 confirmed.
Lake Test ( Ppt of Al(OH)3 is formed again and the
Ppt obtained in group 3 + indicator is adsorbed on its surface)
excess dil HCl + Blue litmus
solution + NaOH

Equation:
Al(OH)3 + 3 HCl Blue Litmus
→
AlCl3 + 3H2O , AlCl3 (aq) + 3 NaOH → Al(OH)3 ↓ + 3 NaCl
Red solution. (Red solution) Blue lake
4. Confirmatory tests for group 4 radicals:

Test for Zn+2: Dissolve the white ppt, obtained in group 4 in dil HCl and divide into two parts.
{ZnS + 2HCl → ZnCl2 + H2S}
(a) Part I + NaOH White ppt of Zn (OH)2 is formed, Ppt.
(dropwise) dissolves in excess NaOH.
Zn+2 confirmed
(b) Neutralise part II with
NH4OH+ potassium Bluish white or white ppt of Zn2 [Fe(CN)6 ]
ferrocyanide K4[Fe (CN)6] is formed.

Equations: (a) ZnCl2 + 2NaOH → Zn(OH)2 + 2NaCl, Zn(OH)2 + 2NaOH→ Na2ZnO2 + 2H2O
White ppt (Excess)

(b) 2 ZnCl2 + K4 [Fe(CN)6 ] → Zn2 [Fe(CN)6 ] + 4 KCl

(Bluish white ppt)

5. Confirmatory tests for group 5 radicals:

Dissolve the white ppt obtained in group in CH3COOH (acetic acid) & divide into three parts.

(a) Test for Ba+2 : Yellow ppt of Barium Chromate (BaCrO4) Ba+2 confirmed.
part I + K2CrO4 solution

Equation: Ba+2 + K2CrO4→ BaCrO4 + 2 K+1

(b) Test for Sr+2 : White pp of SrSO4 is formed. Sr+2 confirmed.

Part II + aq. (NH4)2SO4

Equation: Sr+2 + (NH4)2SO4 → SrSO4 + 2NH4+1

(c) Test for Ca+2: White ppt of Calcium oxalate (CaC2O4) is Ca2+ confirmed
Part III + Aq. (NH4)C2O4 formed
(Ammonium oxalate)
Equation: Ca+2 +(NH4)C2O4→ CaC2O4 + 2NH4+1