Salt Analysis

Aim: To detect the acidic and basic radicals present in the given salt.

Test Observation Inference

1) Colour White Cu2+, Fe2+, Fe3+, Ni2+, Mn2+,

Co2+ absent.

2) Smell No specific odour NH4+, CH3COO-, S2- absent.

3) Density Heavy Salts of Pb2+, Ba2+ may be

present.

4) Deliquescence Salt does not absorb Chlorides of Zn2+, Mg2+

moisture absent.

5) Dry heating test a) Salt decrepitates Pb(NO3)2, KBr, NaCl may be

Heat a pinch of salt in a dry present.
test tube. b) Yellow residue when
hot; white residue Zn2+ may be present.
when cold.

6) Charcoal cavity test

Mix a pinch of salt with Yellow residue Zn2+ may be present.
double the quantity of
Na2CO3 & heat the mixture on
charcoal cavity in reducing
flame.

7) Flame test
Prepare a paste of salt with No specific colour Nothing definite.
conc. HCl & introduce it into
the flame using a platinum
wire loop.

IDENTIFICATION OF ACIDIC RADICALS

8) Dilute H2SO4 test

Salt + dil. H2SO4 No gas evolved. CO32-, SO32-,NO2-, S2- absent.

9) KMnO4 test
Salt + dil. H2SO4 + boil + dil. Pink colour of KMnO4 is not Cl-, Br-, I-, C2O42-, absent.
H2SO4 + 1 drop KMnO4 decolourised.

10) Conc. H2SO4 test

Salt + conc. H2SO4 , heat No gas evolved. Cl-, Br -, I-, C2O42-, CH3COO-
absent.

11) Test for SO42-

Salt + dil.HCl, boil + BaCl2 White ppt insoluble in conc SO42- present.
solution HCl.
 Confirmatory Test for sulphate (SO42-)

12) Lead acetate test

Aqueous salt solution + lead White ppt soluble in excess of SO42- confirmed.
acetate solution. hot ammonium acetate
solution.

IDENTIFICATION OF BASIC RADICALS

13) Test for NH4+

Salt + conc.NaOH, boil and No brown ppt Group 0 (NH4+) absent.
add this solution into
Nessler’s reagent

Preparation of Original Solution (OS)

14) Salt + water, shake well. Salt is soluble in water. Label it as OS.

15) OS + dil HCl No white ppt Group I absent.

16) OS + dil HCl + H2S gas No black/yellow ppt Group II absent.

17) OS + conc. HNO3 + No reddish brown/ white ppt Group III absent.
NH4Cl, Boil, cool and add
NH4OH

18) OS + conc. HNO3 + White ppt formed Group IV (Zn2+) present.

NH4Cl, Boil, cool and add
NH4OH + H2S gas

Confirmatory Test for Zn2+

White ppt + dil HCl, boil + Bluish white ppt formed. Zn2+ confirmed.
potassium ferrocyanide

OR

White ppt + dil HCl, boil + White ppt soluble in excess of Zn2+ confirmed.
NaOH NaOH

CHEMICAL EQUATIONS:

CT for sulphate (SO42-)

Na2SO4 + Pb(CH3COO)2 → PbSO4 + 2CH3COONa

White ppt
CT for aluminium (Zn2+)
ZnS + 2HCl → ZnCl2 + H2S ↑

Potassium ferrocyanide test

2ZnCl2 + K4[Fe(CN)6] → Zn2[Fe(CN)6] ↓ + 4 KCl
Bluish white ppt
OR

Sodium Hydroxide test

ZnCl2 + 2NaOH → Zn(OH)2 ↓+ 2NaCl
White ppt
Zn(OH)2 + 2NaOH → Na2ZnO2 + 2H2O
soluble

RESULT TABLE:

Basic Radical Zinc (Zn2+)

Acidic Radical Sulphate (SO42-)

Salt Zinc sulphate (ZnSO4)