SYSTEMATIC PROCEDURE FOR SIMPLE SALT ANALYSIS
EXPERIMENT OBSERVATION
1 Colour
2 Smell : Noted the smell of the
salt
3 Appearance
4 Solubility : A pinch of the
sample is taken in a test tube
and shaken with 2ml of water
5 Action of Heat : A small
amount of sample is taken in a
dry test tube & heated strongly
6 Flame Test : A pinch of the
sample was taken in a watch
glass & 2 drops of Conc Hcl
was added to make a paste of it.
Then the paste is shown on the
flame with a help of glass rod.
Blue or green
Light green
Colourless
Ammonia cal Pungent smell
Vinegar like smell
Rotten egg smell
No specific odour is noted
Crystalline Solid
Amorphous Solid
Soluble
Descrepitation occurs,
Reddish brown gas turning
Ferrous sulphate solution
black is evolved.
Reddish brown gas turning
starch Iodide paper orange
yellow
Colourless odourless gas
turning lime water milky is
evolved
Small sublimes with the
evolution of pungent smell.
Greenish yellow turns starch
Iodide paper blue
Salt turns yellow on hot &
white on cold
No characteristic gas is
evolved
Bluish green flame
Apple green flame
Brick red flame
No characteristic flame is
observed.
INFERENCE
May be due to Cu2+
May be due to Fe2+
May be due to Pb2+
Al3+, Zn2+, Ba2+, Cu2+, Sr2+& Mg2+
May be presence of NH4+
May be presence of CH3COO-
May be presence of S2-
Absence of NH4+
CH3COO-,S2-
May be due to Cl- , Br-, CH3COO-
SO42-& NO3-
May be due to CO32-& S2-
May be due to presence of Cl-, Br-,
CH3COO-- , SO42-& NO3--
May be due to presence of CO32-& S2-
Presence of NO3-
Presence of Br-
Presence of CO32-
Presence of NH4+
Presence of Cl-
Presence of Zn2+
Absence of NO3-, CO32-,NH4+,Zn2+
Presence of Cu2+
Presence of Ba2+
Presence of Ca2+
Absence of Cu2+, Ba2+, Ca2+& Sr2+
 7 Ash Test : To a small portion of
salt solution, 1 ml of Co(No3)2
and 1 drop of conc HNO3
were added. A filter paper was
soaked in this solution and
burnt to ashes.
SYSTEMATIC PROCEDURE FOR SIMPLE SALT ANIONS
EXPERIMENT
1 Dil H2SO4Test : To a pinch
of salt dil H2SO4 was added.
2 Conc H2SO4Test :
To a pinch of salt 1 ml of
Conc H2SO4 was added and
heated.
3 BaCl2Test : To the salt
solution, 2 ml of BaCl2
Solution was added.
4 Ester test : Take a pinch of
salt in a dry test tube and add
to it 1 ml of Conc H2So4and
4-5 drops of ethyl alcohol .
Heat the contents of the test
tube and smell.
Blue ash May be the presence of Al3+
Green ash May be the presence of Zn2+
Pink ash May be the presence of Mg2+
No characteristic coloured ash May be the absence of Al3+, Zn2+, &Mg2+
OBSERVATION INFERENCE
A colourless, odourless gas with Presence of CO32-
brisk effervescence evolved
which turns lime water milky.
A colourless gas having smell of Presence of S2-
rotten eggs is produced which
turns moist lead acetate paper
black.
No characteristic gas is evolved. Absence of CO32-,S2-,SO32-& NO2-
Colourless gas, giving dense Presence of Cl-
white fumes with a glass rod
dippled in NH4OH
Vinegar like odour Presence of CH3COO-
Evolution of reddish brown Presence of Br-
vapour of Bromine which turns
starch- Paper orange red.
Evolution of brown fumes which Presence of NO3-
when passed through FeSO4
solution , it turns black.
Absence of Br- , NO3-, Cl-& CH3COO-
No characteristic gas is evolved.
A white precipitate is formed Presence of SO42-
which is insoluble in Conc Hcl.
No characteristic precipitate is Absence of SO42-
obtained
Fruity smell is observed. Presence of CH3COO-
No characteristic smell is Absence of CH3COO-
observed.
 CONFIRMATORY TEST FOR ANIONS

EXPERIMENT OBSERVATION INFERENCE

1 Confirmatory test for Carbonates
(Co32-)
Add dilH2So4 ordilHcl to the salt
solution and pass the gas evolved
through lime water.
Brisk effervescences with Presence of CO32-is confirmed.
evolution of CO2, lime water
turns milky.

Keep passing the gas for long Milkiness is disappeared. Presence of CO32-is confirmed.

2 Confirmatory test for Chloride: Cl-

Silver nitrate test : Curdy white precipitate soluble in Presence of Cl- is confirmed.
To a portion of the aqueous NH4OH solution.
solutions of the salt add dil HNO3
and AgNO3 solution

Chromyl Chloride test: To a pinch Red vapours giving yellow

of salt K2Cr2O7& 1 ml of Conc
H2SO4 were added and heated
strongly.
solution on passing NaOH
solution.
Presence of Cl- is confirmed.
On adding lead acetate solution
yellow precipitate was obtained

3 Confirmatory test for Bromide:Br-

Silver nitrate test : Pale yellow precipitate partially Presence of Br- is confirmed.
To a portion of the aqueous soluble in NH4OH solution.
solutions of the salt add dil HNO3
and AgNO3 solution

Chlorine water and CS2 or

CCl4test: Acidify a portion of the
Yellow or orange layer in CS2 or Presence of Br- is confirmed.
aqueous solution of salt with dil
HCl and then add 1-2 ml of CS2 or CCl4 layer
CCl4 and excess of chlorine water
shake vigorously and allow to
stand
4 Confirmatory test for Nitrate: No3-
Brown Ring Test: A dark brown ring is formed at Presence of NO3- is confirmed.
To the aqueous solution of the salt the junction of the two layers.
add freshly prepared FeSo4
solution and shake well. Then add
Con H2SO4along the sides of the
test tube.
A reddish brown gas evolved Presence of NO3- is confirmed.
Copper turning test : To a pinch of
salt, small amount of copper which turns FeSO4solution black
turnings and 1 ml of
Conc H2SO4were added and
heated strongly.
5 Confirmatory test for Sulphate:
SO42- Lead acetate test:
To the aqueous solution of the salt
add 2 to 3 drops of acetic acid and
add lead acetate solution.
White precipitate soluble in Presence of SO42- is confirmed.
excess of ammonium acetate
solution.

6 Confirmatory test for Acetate:

Ferric Chloride test:
To the aqueous solution of the salt Deep red colouration is produced Presence of CH3COO is confirmed.
-

add a few drops of neutral FeCl3 which disappears on adding

solution dilHcl.
SYSTEMATIC ANALYSIS OF CATIONS

EXPERIMENT OBSERVATION INFERENCE

1 Test for zero group cations :

NaOHTest : To a small quantity Colourless gas with pungent Presence of NH4+

of the given salt, 1 ml of NaOH smell, giving dense white fumes
solution was added and warmed. with a glass rod dipped in
Con.HCl.

No characteristic smell is absence of NH4+

observed.
2 Confirmatory Test : (Nessler’s
reagent test): To a small amount
of given salt, 1 ml of NaOH Brown precipitate was obtained Presence of NH4+is obtained
solution was added and warmed,
to the above mixture 1 ml of
Nessler’s reagent was added.
PREPARATION OF SALT SOLUTION

 For water soluble salt : A small amount of the salt was dissolved in 5 ml of water.
 For water insoluble salt: A small amount of the salt was dissolved in 2 ml of hot dil HCl

GROUP IDENTIFICATION

EXPERIMENT OBSERVATION INFERENCE

1 Test for Group I cation: White precipitate Presence of Group-I cation
To 1 ml of the salt solution, 1 ml
of dil. HCl was added No characteristic change Absence of Group-I cation

2 Test for Group II cation: Black precipitate Presence of Group-II cation

To the above mixture of group I,
H2S gas was passed No characteristic change Absence of Group-II cation

3 Test for Group IIIcation: Green (Fe2+)/ Gelatinous Presence of Group-III cation
To 1 ml of salt solution, 1 ml of
each NH4Cl & NH4OH solutions White (Al3+) precipitate Absence of Group-III cation
were added
No characteristic change
4 Test for Group IVcation: Dirty white precipitate Presence of Group-IV cation
To the above mixture of Group III,
 H2S gas was passed. No characteristic change Absence of Group-IV cation

5 Test for Group Vcation: White precipitate Presence of Group-V cation

To1 ml of salt solution, 1ml of
each NH4Cl, NH4OH & (NH4)2CO3 No characteristic change Absence of Group-V cation
solutions were added.
6 Test for Group VIcation: White precipitate Presence of Group-VI cation
To1 ml of salt solution, 1 ml of
each NH4Cl, NH4OH & Na2HPO4 No characteristic change Absence of Group-VI cation
solution was added.
CONFIRMATORY TESTS FOR CATIONS
Analysis of Group I cation (Pb2+)

EXPERIMENT OBSERVATION INFERENCE

1 To 1 ml of the salt solution , White precipitate Presence of Pb2+confirmed
1 ml of dil. H2SO4 was added.

2 To 1 ml of the salt solution , Bright yellow precipitate Presence of Pb2+ confirmed

1 ml of K2CrO4solution was
added.
3 To 1 ml of the salt solution ,
1 ml of Kl solution was added.
Yellow precipitate Presence of Pb2+ confirmed
(which dissolved on heating &
reappeared as golden yellow
spangles on cooling)

Analysis of Group II cation (Cu2+)

EXPERIMENT OBSERVATION INFERENCE

1 To 1 ml of the salt solution , Deep blue colour solution Presence of Cu2+confirmed
excess of NH4OH solution was
added.
2 To 1 ml of the salt solution , Chocolate brown precipitate is Presence of Cu2+ confirmed
1 ml of Pottassiumferrocyanide obtained
solution was added.

Analysis of Group III cation (Fe2+/ Al3+)

If green precipitate was obtained (Fe2+)

EXPERIMENT OBSERVATION INFERENCE

1 To 1 ml of the salt solution , Pink colour of KMnO4 was Presence of Fe2+confirmed
1ml of acidified KMnO4 solution discharged.
was added.
2 To 1 ml of the salt solution , Deep blue colour solution Presence of Fe2+ confirmed
1 ml of Pottassiumferrocyanide
solution was added.

If gelatinous white precipitate was obtained Al3+

 EXPERIMENT
1 To 1 ml of the salt solution ,
few drops of NaOH solution was
added.
2 To 1 ml of the salt solution ,
1 ml of NH4OH & 1ml of
Aluminon reagent were added. .
OBSERVATION INFERENCE
White precipitate was obtained Presence of Al3+confirmed
which dissolves on adding excess
of NaOH solution.
Bright red lake Presence of Al3+confirmed

Analysis of Group IV cation (Zn2+)

EXPERIMENT OBSERVATION INFERENCE

1 To 1 ml of the salt solution , White precipitate was obtained Presence of Zn2+confirmed
few drops of NaOH solution was which dissolves on adding excess
added. of NaOH solution.
2 To 1 ml of the original solution , white precipitate was obtained. Presence of Zn2+confirmed
1 ml of Pottassiumferrocyanide
solution was added.
Analysis of Group Vcation (Ba2+,Sr2+&Ca2+)

EXPERIMENT OBSERVATION INFERENCE

1 To 1 ml of the salt solution , Yellow precipitate Presence of Ba2+confirmed
1 ml of Pottassium chromate
solution was added. No Yellow precipitate Absence of Ba2+
2 To 1 ml of the salt solution , white precipitate Presence of Sr2+ confirmed
1 ml of ammonium sulphate
solution was added. No white precipitate Absence of Sr2+
3 To 1 ml of the salt solution ,
1 ml of ammonium oxalate white precipitate Presence of Ca2+ confirmed
solution was added.

Analysis of Group VI cation (Mg2+)

EXPERIMENT OBSERVATION INFERENCE

1 To 1 ml of the salt solution , White precipitate was obtained Presence of Mg2+confirmed
few drops of NaOH solution was which dissolves on adding excess
added. of NaOH solution.
2 To 1 ml of the salt solution , Blue precipitate Presence of Mg2+confirmed
few drops of Magneson reagent
was added..
RESULT:
The given simple salt contains:
(i) Anion :
(ii) Cation :

Salt =