ANALYSIS OF SIMPLE SALT

TESTS FOR ACID RADICAL (ANION)

EXPERIMENT
1. Test with dil. Hydrochloric acid
(HCl): A little of the salt is added to which turns lime water milky.
dil. HCl taken in a test tube.
2. Test with dil. Sulphuric acid
(H2SO4): A little of the salt is
rubbed with Dil. H2SO4 in a watch
glass and the smell is noted.
3. Test with Barium chloride
(BaCl2): To a little of the salt
solution add BaCl2 solution.
CONFIRMATORY TESTS FOR ANIONS
EXPERIMENT
1. Carbonate (CO3 2-): A little of the
salt solution is treated with BaCl2
solution.
2. Acetate (CH3COO-): To a little of
the salt solution a few drops of
neutral ferric chloride (FeCl3) is
added.
2-
3. Sulphate (SO4): Acetic acid and
lead acetate are added to the salt
solution.
OBSERVATION INFERENCE
2-
A colourless, odourless gas is evolved
Presence of carbonate (CO3)2-
[No characteristic reaction]
[Absence of carbonate]
Smell of vinegar Presence of acetate (CH3COO-)
[No characteristic reaction] [Absence of acetate]
A white precipitate insoluble in Presence of sulphate (SO4)2-
excess of dil. HCl.
[No characteristic reaction] Absence of sulphate (SO4)2-
OBSERVATION INFERENCE
A white precipitate is formed which is
Presence of carbonate confirmed.
soluble in dil. HCl with
the evolution of CO2.
Presence of acetate confirmed.
A reddish-brown coloration
A white precipitate soluble in Presence of sulphate
ammonium acetate is formed.
confirmed.

ANALYSIS OF BASIC RADICALS (CATIONS)

EXPERIMENT OBSERVATION INFERENCE
1. Zero group: AMMONIA
A little of the salt solution is treated No precipitate Presence of zero group cation
with sodium carbonate (Na2CO3) (NH4 +).
solution.
2. First group: LEAD
To a little of the salt solution add White precipitate. Presence of Group I cation
dil. HCl (Pb2+).
CONFIRMATORY TESTS FOR CATIONS
EXPERIMENT OBSERVATION INFERENCE
+
CONFIRMATION OF ZERO GROUP (NH4 )
1. To a little of the salt solution A reddish-brown precipitate is Presence of ammonium
Nessler’s reagent is added. formed. confirmed.
CONFIRMATION OF GROUP I (Pb2+)
1. To a little of the salt solution add A golden yellow precipitate is
potassium iodide (KI) solution. formed which is soluble in hot Presence of lead (Pb2+)
water and crystallised as golden
spangles on cooling.