2

Aim -Determination of one cation and one anion in a given salt.

Apparatus – Test tube , test tube holder, test tube stand, Burner, wire gauze , dropper
Observation Table

Experiment Observation Inference

A) Physical
Examination Cu2+ or Ni2+may be
1)Colour Blue or Bluish green present.
2)Smell -Take a
pinch of the Salt in NH4+ , S2– and CH3COO–
between fingers and Odourless may be absent.
rub it with a drop of
water
3. Dry heating test -
Heated a pinch of the salt in
a dry test tube
observations :
(a) Gas evolved A colourless, odourless gas CO32–– present
evolved which turned lime
water
milky.

(b) Sublimation No sublimate formed. Ammonium halides,

aluminium chloride,
iodide may be absent.

(c) Decrepitation No crackling sound observed. Lead nitrate, barium

nitrate, sodium chloride,
potassium chloride and
potassium iodide may be
absent.

(d) Colour of the residue Coloured salt becomes black Co2+, Cu2+ , Mn2+ indicated.
on heating.

B) Identification of Acidic Radicals

Experiment
KMnO4 Test –
To pinch of salt + dil. H2SO4+
warm + drop of KMnO4 Soln.
Salt + dil. H2SO4+ warm + Drop
of KMnO4 Sol.
Observation Inference
Pink colour of KMnO4 was not Cl-, Br,- I-, Fe2+ C2O42- are
discharged absent
Colourless, odourless gas Co32- may be present
evolved with brisk
effervescence,
turned lime water milky.

C) Confirmatory test for Acidic Radicals

Experiment Observation Inference

1. Salt + dil HCl Brisk effervescence with evolution CO32- is Confirmed
of colourless, odourless gas
which turned lime water milky.
2. Salt +MgSO4 solution White precipitate CO32- is Confirmed

D) Identification of Basic Radicals

Experiment Observation Inference

O.S. + NaOH No Ammonical Smell Zero group absent
O.S. + dil. HCl No precipitate Group I absent
(Pb2+ absent)
O.S. + dil. HCl + H2S gas Black precipitate Group II present
Cu2+ may be present.

E) Confirmatory test for Basic Radicals

Heat the black ppt. with minimum quantity (1-2 ml) of 50% HNO3, ppt. dissolves.
Experiment Observation Inference
To one part of the above Blue colouration Cu2+ Confirmed
solution +NH4OH solution
Above solution +acetic acid chocolate brown ppt. Cu2+ Confirmed
+pot. ferrocynide

Result – The given salt contains

Acidic Radical - Co32
Basic Radical – Cu2+
Formula of the salt- CuCO3
Name of the salt- Copper Carbonate

Precautions-
1) Use minimum quantity of reagent while preparing
2) For dilution always pour acid into water .