Q U A L I T A T I V E A N A L YS I S

SCHEME OF ANALYSIS
EXPERIMENT OBSERVATION INFERENCE
Preliminary Examination
Note the colour of the salt Blue or bluish green Presence ofCu2+/Ni2+
Greenish colour Presence ofNi2+
Light green Presence of Fe2+
Dark brown Presence ofFe3+
Pink or violet Presence ofCo2+
Light pink Presence ofMn2+
White Absence of all the above ions.
Odour: Take a pinch of salt between Ammoniacal smell Presence ofNH4+
your fingers and rub it with a drop of Vinegar like smell Presence of acetate
water Smell of rotten eggs Presence of sulphide
No odour Absence of all the above ions.
Solubility: To a little bit of the salt All NH4+ salts,nitrites,nitrates,
add Soluble Acetates,chlorides except that
Cold water and shake Soluble of lead,most of the sulphates
except that of Pb,Ba,Ca, Sr
Hot water and shake Lead chloride,Lead nitrate.
Cold dil HCl and shake Soluble
Hot dil HCl and shake All carbonates which do not
dissolve in water.
Cold conc HCl and shake
Presence of Ba2+
Flame Test: Make a paste of the salt Grassy green flame. Presence of Ca2+
with conc HCl.Take a part of the
paste at the tip of a platinum loop and Brick red flame. Presence of Sr2+
show it to a non luminous flame.

Crimson red flame.

Ash Test : To a few drops of salt
solution add one or two drops of conc Blue ash. Presence of Al3+
HNO3 and a few drops of dil cobalt Presence of Zn2+
nitrate solution and boil for two
minutes. Dip a filter paper into the Green ash.
solution and burn it to ash.Note the Presence of Mg2+
colour of the ash. Pink ash.

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INDICATORY TEST FOR ANIONS
Dil:HCl Test: To a little of the salt in Brisk effervesence Presence of carbonate
a dry test tube add dil HCl with the evolution of a (Carbon dioxide gas is
colourless odourless evolved)
gas which turns lime
water milky.
Colurless gas with Presence of sulphite
pungent smell which (Sulphur dioxide gas is
turns K2Cr2O7solution evolved.)
green.
Colurless gas with the Presence of sulphide
smell of rotten eggs (H2S gas is evolved)
which turns lead
acetate solution black.
Reddish brown gas Presence of Nitrite
turning FeSO4 solution (NO2 gas is evolved.)
black.
Conc.H2SO4 Test: To a pinch of salt Colourless gas evolved Presence of chloride
in a test tube add a few drops which turns dense (The gas evolved is HCl)
of conc.H2SO4 and warm. white when a glass
rod dipped in
ammonia is shown at
the mouth of the test
tube
Light yellow gas with Presence of bromide
pungent smell turns (The gas evolved is Br2)
starch paper yellow
Deep violet vapours Presence of iodide.
which turns starch
paper blue. (I2 vapours are evolved.)

MnO2 Test: Heat a pinch of the salt Greenish yellow gas Presence of chloride.
with MnO2 & Conc.H2SO4. which turns starch (Cl2 gas is evolved.)
iodide paper blue.

Reddish brown gas Presence of bromide.

which turns starch (Br2 gas is evolved.)
paper yellow.
Violet vapours which Presence of iodide.
turns starch paper blue. (I2 vapours are evolved.)

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Paper ball Test: To a small quantity of Dark brown fumes Presence of nitrate.
the salt in a test tube add evolved (NO2 gas is evolved.)
conc.H2SO4 &a paper ball
and heat.

Dil.H2SO4 test: To a pinch of salt in Gas with smell of Presence of acetate.

hand add a few drops of vinegar. (The gas is CH3COOH
dil.H2SO4 & rub well with vapours.)
fingers & note the smell.
BaCl2 Test: To a few ml of salt White precipitate Presence of sulphate.
solution add dil.HCl & a few insoluble in mineral (The white precipitate is that of
drops of BaCl2 solution. barium sulphate.)
acids.
Ammonium molybdate test: To 1ml Deep yellow Presence of phosphate.
of salt solution add precipitate. (The yellow ppt is
conc.HNO3 & then Amm.phosphate molybdate)
ammonium molybdate &
warm..
TESTS FOR
CONFIRMATORY
ANIONS
Preparation of sodium carbonate extract:
This is prepared only if the salt is insoluble in water. Mix about 1gm of the salt
with 2g of sodium carbonate and boil it for 10-15 minutes with 20-25 ml of
distilled water. Filter the solution , cool it and label it as sodium carbonate
extract.

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Confirmation for CO32-
1.To a pinch of the salt add dil.HCl.
Pass the gas evolved through lime Brisk effervesence Presence of CO32- confirmed.
water with the evolution of a
colourless odourless
gas which turns lime
2.Magnesium sulphate Test: (only for
water milky
soluble carbonates)
White precipitate in Presence of soluble carbonate
To a few ml of the salt solution add confirmed.
the cold
magnesium sulphate solution.
(The white ppt is magnesium
carbonate.)
Confirmation of Sulphate

1.Barium Chloride test: To a few ml Awhite ppt which Presence of Sulphate

of sodium carbonate extract acidified dissolves in dil.HCl confirmed.
with dil acetic acid add barium (The white ppt is that of
chloride solution. barium sulphate.)

2.To a part of the ppt from (1) Presence of sulphate

The pink colour is
add a few drops of acidified discharged. confirmed.
potassium permanganate solution.
Confirmation for Sulphide
1.To a portion of the salt A black ppt is Presence of Sulphide
solution/sodium carbonate extract obtained. confirmed.
acidified with dil acetic acid addlead
acetate solution.

2.Sodium nitro prusside test.

Purple or violet Presence of Sulphide
To a portion of the salt confirmed.
colouration is
solution/sodium carbonate extract in a obtained.
test tube add a few drops of sodium
nitro prusside solution.

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Confirmation for Nitrite
1. To a portion of the salt Adark brown or black Presence of nitrite confirmed.
solution/sodium carbonate extract colouration is obtained
in a test tube add some dil.acetic
acid and ferrous sulphate solution
2. Starch iodide test: To a portion of
the salt solution/sodium
carbonate extract in a test tube A blue solution is Presence of nitrite confirmed.
add a few drops of dil.H2SO4 and obtained.
a few drops of potassium iodide
solution followed by freshly
prepared starch solution

Confirmation for Chloride.

1. Silver nitrate test: To a portion of
the salt solution/sodium carbonate
extract in a test tube acidify with
dil.nitric acid ,boil cool and then
add silver nitrate solution.
White curdy ppt Presence of chloride confirmed
soluble in excess of (White ppt of silver chloride
ammonium hydroxide dissolves in NH4OH to form
soluble complex)

2. Chromyl Chloride test:

Mix a small quantity of the salt
with a small amount of powdered
potassium dichromate.Take the
mixture in a test tube and add
conc.H2SO4
Heat the test tube and pass the red
vapours evolved into a test tube Ayellow ppt is Presence of chloride
containing NaOH solutionTo the obtained. confirmed
yellow solution thus obtained add
(The yellow ppt is lead
dil CH3COOH and lead acetate
chromate.)
solution.

Prepared by Dr. S. Vasudhevan, PGT Chemistry, K.V. No2, AFS, Tambaram, Chennai-73. Page 5
 Conformation for Bromide.

1. Silver nitrate test: To a portion of Pale yellow ppt Presence of bromide

the salt solution/sodium sparingly soluble in confirmed.
carbonate extract in a test tube NH4OH (AgBr sparingly soluble in
acidify with dil.nitric acid ,boil NH4OH)
cool and then add silver nitrate
solution.

2. Acidify a portion of the salt Carbon di sulphide Presence of bromide confirmed

solution/sodium carbonate extract layer acquires orange (Br2 being soluble in CS2
with dil.HCl and add 1-2ml of colouration. imparts orange colour.)
carbon disulphide and then
chlorine water.
Shake vigorously and
allow to stand.

Conformation for Iodide.

1. Silver nitrate test: To a portion of yellow ppt insoluble in Presence of iodide confirmed.
the salt solution/sodium carbonate NH4OH (AgI insoluble in NH4OH)
extract in a test tube acidify with
dil.nitric acid ,boil cool and then
add silver nitrate solution.
2. Acidify a portion of the salt Carbon di sulphide Presence of iodide confirmed
solution/sodium carbonate layer acquires violet (I2 being soluble in CS2
extract with dil.HCl and add 1- colouration imparts violet colour.)
2ml of carbon disulphide and
then chlorine water. Shake
vigorously and allow to
stand.
Confirmation for Nitrate.
1. Copper chips test: Heat a small Dark brown fumes Presence of nitrate confirmed.
quantity of the salt with conc evolved and the (Brown fumes is that of NO2)
sulphuric acid and copper chips. solution turns blue.
2. Brown ring test: Add a small
quantity of saturated freshly
prepared ferrous sulphate to a part Presence of nitrate confirmed
A dark brown ring is
of the water extract of the salt and (Brown ring is that of
formed at the junction
then pour a few drops of conc [Fe (NO) (H2O)5]2+
of the layers of the
sulphuric acid slowly along the acid and the solution.
sides of the test tube.

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 Confirmation for Acetate.
1. Ferric chloride test. Reddish coloured Presence of acetate confirmed.
Take water extract of the filtrate.
salt.Addneutral ferric chloride
solution.Filter divide the filtrate to
two parts.
a) To one part add dil HCl
b) To second part add water and Reddish colour
boil. disappears

Reddish brown
precipitate.
Confirmation for Sulphate

1. Acidify a part of the sodium A white ppt is formed Presence of sulphate

carbonate extract with acetic acid which is soluble in confirmed.
and add lead acetate solution. excess of hot (The white ppt is that of lead
2. Match stick test: Acidify a part of ammonium acetate. sulphate.)
the sodium carbonate extract with
dil.HCl and add barium chloride Presence of sulphate
solution. Filter and take the white Violet streaks are confirmed.
ppt mix it with sodium carbonate
produced.
and a little powdered charcoal so
as to form a paste.Take some of
this paste at the tip of a wooden
splinter and heat in reducing
flame till the mass fuses.Dip the
fused mass into sodium nitro
prusside solution taken in a china
dish.
Confirmation for Phosphate

1. Take a portion of the sodium A white ppt is Presence of phosphate

carbonate extract add hydrochloric obtained. confirmed.
acid to acidify it and boil of
carbon dioxide. Add magnesia
mixture and allow to stand.

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 A N A L Y S I S OF C A T I O N S
GROUP DETECTION TABLE

To the solid salt add sodium Colourless gas with smell of ammonia Group O present (NH4+)
hydroxide and warm. which turns dense white when a glass
rod dipped in dil.HCl is shown at the
mouth of the test tube

To the salt solution add White precipitate Group I present ( Pb2+ )

dil.HCl
To the salt solution add dil.HCl Black precipitate Group II present (Cu2+, Pb2+ )
and pass H2S

To the salt solution add solid Red gelatinous precipitate. Group III present (Fe3+)
ammonium chloride and excess
of ammonium hydroxide
If Group,III is absent divide the
above solution into three equal
parts and perform the following
tests

To one part of the above Black ppt Group IV present

solution pass H2S Buff coloured ppt Presence of Co2+ or Ni2+
Dirty white ppt Presence of Mn2+
Presence of Zn2+

To the second part add White precipitate Presence of Group V

ammonium hydroxide followed (Ba2+, Sr2+, Ca2+ )
by ammonium carbonate.

To the third part add disodium White crystalline precipitate Presence of Group VI
hydrogen phosphate. (Mg2+)

Confirmation for Group O

Nessler’s reagent test: (NH4+ ) Presence of NH 4 + confirmed

To the solid salt add sodium Brown precipitate.

hydroxide solution
and warm.
Pass the gas evolved through a
test tube containing
Nessler’s reagent.

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Confirmation for Group I (Pb2+)

Filter and wash the white precipitate obtained in Group I. Boil the white ppt

with 5-10 ml of water. Divide the solution into three parts.

1. Cool one part under the tap White crystalline precipitate Presence of Pb2+ confirmed.

2. Potassium chromate test: To

the second part add Yellow ppt Presence of Pb2+ confirmed
potassium chromate
solution.

3. Potassium iodide test: To Yellow ppt which dissolves on boiling

the third part add potassium with water and reappears as golden Presence of Pb2+ confirmed
iodide solution. spangles on cooling.

Confirmation for Group II (Cu2+ )

Heat the black ppt with
minimum quantity of 50% Blue coloured solution. Presence of ( Cu2+ )
HNO3 and add excess of
NH4OH .
1. Potassium ferrocyanide
test: To one part of the blue
solution add acetic acid and Chocolate brown ppt Presence of ( Cu2+ )
potassium ferro cyanide confirmed.
solution.
2. Potassium iodide test: To
the second part of the blue Presence of ( Cu2+ )
solution add acetic acid and White ppt is formed in brown confirmed.
potassium iodide solution. coloured solution.

Conformation for Group III (Fe3+ )

Dissolve the reddish brown

precipitate in dil.HCl and divide
the solution into two equal
parts.
1. Potassium ferrocyanide test: Prussian blue colouration Presence of Fe3+ confirmed.
To one part of the above (The Prussian blue ppt is that of
solution add potassium Ferric ferro cyanide )
ferro cyanide solution.

2. Potassium sulphocyanide Blood red colouration. Presence of Fe3+ confirmed.

test: To the second part add (The blood red ppt is that of
a little potassium Ferric sulpho cyanide. )
sulphocyanide solution

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 Confirmation for Group IV (Co2+ ,Ni2+ Mn2+ Zn2+ )

Black ppt
Dissolve the black ppt in Blue residue. Presence of Co2+
minimum quantity of aqua
regia. Evaporate to dryness the
solution in a china dish Yellow residue. Presence of Ni2+

Confirmation for Co2+

Dissolve the blue residue in a
little distilled water and divide
to two equal parts.

1. Potassium nitrate test: To

one part add ammonium Yellow ppt Presence of Co2+ confirmed.
hydroxide to neutralize the (The yellow ppt is potassium
solution.Add acetic acid cobalt nitrate.)
and a crystal of potassium
nitrate Warm.

2. Ammonium thiocyanate Blue colour in ethereal layer Presence of Co2+ confirmed.

ether test: To another part
add 1ml ether. Add a
crystal of ammonium thio
cyanate.Shake and allow to
settle.

Confirmation for Ni2+ Dissolve

the yellow residue In distilled
water to get a Green coloured
solution And divide it to two
parts.
Bright rose red ppt Presence of Ni2+ confirmed
1. Dimethyl glyoxime test: To
one part add ammonium
hydroxide and a few drops
of dimethyl glyoxime. Black ppt Presence of Ni2+ confirmed

2. Sodium hydroxide Br2 test:

To another part add sodium
hydroxide and bromine
water and boil.

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 Buff coloured ppt

Confirmation for Mn2+

Dissolve the buff coloured ppt

in dil.HCl and boil of H2S.

1. Sodium hydroxide Br2 test. White ppt turning black or brown. Presence of Mn2+ confirmed.
To the above solution add (The white ppt is manganous
sodium hydroxide solution. hydroxide and brown ppt is
Shake and then add Br2 manganic hydroxide.)
water. Pink coloured solution.
Presence of Mn2+ confirmed
2. Lead peroxide test: To black
ppt obtained in the above test
add conc.HNO3 and lead
peroxide.Boil cool and allow
to settle.

Dirty white ppt

Confirmation for Zn2+

Dissolve the dirty white ppt in

dil.HCl and boil of H2S and
divide the solution into two White ppt which dissolves in excess
equal parts of sodium hydroxide Presence of Zn2+ confirmed.

1. Sodium hydroxide test:

To one part add sodium
hydroxide solution first
dropwise and then in excess Bluish white ppt
Presence of Zn2+ confirmed.
2. Potassium ferro cyanide (The bluish white ppt is that of
Test: To another part add hexa cyano ferrate (II) ion)
potassium ferrocyanide
solution. Green ash.
Presence of Zn2+ confirmed
3. Ash test: To the salt solution
add a few drops of conc.
HNO3 and a few drops of
dil.cobalt nitrate solution
and boil thoroughly for a few
minutes.Dip a filter paper
into the solution and burn the
filter paper to ashes.

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 Confirmation for Group V (Ca2+ ,Ba 2+ ,Sr2+ )

Dissolve the white ppt in hot

dil.acetic acid ,boil of
carbondioxide and divide to
three equal parts.

Confirmation for Ba2+

1. Potassium chromate test:

To one part of the solution Yellow ppt Presence of Ba2+confirmed.
add a few drops of (The yellow ppt is that of
potassium chromate barium chromate )
solution.

2. Flame test: : Make a paste

of the salt with conc
HCl.Take a part of the Grassy green flame Presence of Ba2+confirmed.
paste at the tip of a
platinum loop and show it
to a non luminous flame.

Confirmatuio for Sr2+

(Test for Sr2+only if Ba2+ is

absent.)

1. Ammonium sulphate test:

To the second part of the White ppt
solution add 1ml of Presence of Sr2+confirmed.
ammonium sulphate (The white ppt is that of strontium
solution and warm. sulphate)

2. Flame test: : Make a paste

of the salt with conc
HCl.Take a part of the Crimson red flame.
paste at the tip of a Presence of Sr2+confirmed
platinum loop and show it
to a non luminous flame.

Cofirmation for Ca2+

(Test for Ca2+only if Ba2+ &
Sr2+ is absent.)

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 1. Ammonium oxalate test:
To the third portion of the
solution add 1-2ml of
ammonium oxalate
solution.
Add a little ammonium White ppt Presence of Ca2+confirmed.
hydroxide to it and scratch (The white ppt is that of calcium
the sides. oxalate)

2. Flame test: : Make a paste

of the salt with conc
HCl.Take a part of the
paste at the tip of a
platinum loop and show it
to a non luminous flame. Brick red flame. Presence of Ca2+confirmed.

Confirmation for Group VI (Mg2+)

1. Ash test: To the salt

solution add a few drops of
conc.HNO3 and a few drops Pink ash. Presence of Mg2+ confirmed.
of dil.cobalt nitrate solution
and boil thoroughly for a
few minutes. Dip a filter
paper into the solution and
burn the filter paper to
ashes.

REPORT: The given salt contains ……………… ( ) as anion & ……………… ( )

as cation. Therefore the salt is ………………………. ( ).

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