Qualitative analysis of inorganic salt

Aim: To analyse the given salt for acid and basic radicals.

Experiment Observation Inference

Physical examination:
Colour White Salts of Cu2+, Ni2+, Fe2+, Fe3+, Mn2+ are
absent.
Nature Crystalline 2−¿ ¿
CO 3 may be absent
Amorphous CO 2−¿
3
¿
may be present
Density Heavy Salts of Pb2+ or Ba2+ may be present
Light Salts of Pb2+ or Ba2+ may be absent
Light fluffy powder 2−¿ ¿
CO 3 may be present
Deliquescence Non – Deliquescent NO−¿¿
3 of Zn2+ or Cl- of Zn2+, Mg2+ may be
absent
deliquescent NO−¿¿
3 of Zn2+ or Cl- of Zn2+, Mg2+ may be
present
Odour Ammonical smell NH +¿¿
4 may be present
Vinegar like smell CH3COO- may be present
Rotten egg smell S2- may be present
No characteristic NH +¿¿
4 , CH3COO , S may be absent
- 2-

Solubility
Detection of acid radicals: ( anions)
Detection of first group acid radicals:
Dil. H2SO4 test:
A pinch of salt + few drops of
dil.H2SO4
Confirmatory test for
2−¿ :¿
CO 3
From the above solution the
gas liberated is passed through
the test tube containing lime
water.
Detection of second group acid radicals:
Conc. H2SO4 test:
A pinch of salt in a dry test
tube + few drops of
conc.H2SO4
observation
Soluble in cold water Pb2+ may be absent
Soluble in hot water Pb2+ may be present
Soluble in dil. HCl 2−¿ ¿
CO 3 may be present
Colourless, odourless gas I group acid radical CO 3
2−¿ ¿
is present.
is evolved with brisk
effervescence.
No characteristic I group acid radical CO 3
2−¿ ¿
is absent.
observation
Lime water turns milky CO 3
2−¿ ¿
is present and confirmed.
Colourless gas with II group acid radical Cl- is present.
pungent smell which
gives dense white fumes
when a glass rod dipped
in NH4OH is held on the
mouth of test tube.

Reddish brown fumes II group acid radical Br- is present.

and the solution turns red.

Above solution + copper
turnings. Heated strongly.
Colourless vapours with II group acid radical CH3COO- is present.
smell of vinegar, turns
blue litmus red.
No characteristic Cl-, Br-and CH3COO- are absent
observation
−¿¿
Reddish brown fumes II group acid radical NO 3 is present.
and the solution turns
blue.

No characteristic II group acid radicals are absent.

Confirmatory test for Cl- :
1. Silver nitrate test:
Clear salt solution in dilute
nitric acid + 3 drops of silver
nitrate solution.
observation
A curdy white precipitate II group acid radical Cl- is present and
soluble in excess of confirmed.
ammonium hydroxide.

2. Manganese dioxide test:

A pinch of salt + 2-3 drops of Green coloured gas II group acid radical Cl- is present and
conc. H2SO4 + pinch of MnO2 evolved. confirmed.
and heated.

Confirmatory test for Br- :

1. Silver nitrate test:
Clear salt solution in dilute A pale yellow precipitate II group acid radical Br- is present and
nitric acid + 3 drops of silver partially soluble in excess confirmed.
nitrate solution. of ammonium hydroxide.

2. Manganese dioxide test:

A pinch of salt + 2-3 drops of Reddish brown gas II group acid radical Br- is present and
conc. H2SO4 + pinch of MnO2 evolved. confirmed.
and heated.

Confirmatory test for CH3COO - :

1. Oxalic acid test:

A Pinch of salt in a watch Smell of vinegar. II group acid radical CH3COO - is present
glass + pinch of oxalic acid. and confirmed.
Prepare paste with few drops
of water. Rub the paste and
check the smell.

2. Esterification:
A pinch of salt + 3 – 4 drops of Fruity smell of ester. II group acid radical CH3COO - is present
conc. H2SO4 and heat. + few and confirmed.
drops of ethyl alcohol . Mix
the content and pour to a
beaker full of water.
 −¿¿
Confirmatory test for NO 3
:
Brown ring test:
−¿¿
3 drops of clear salt solution in A brown ring is formed at II group acid radical NO 3 is present and
dil. H2SO4 + 3 drops of fresh the junction of two confirmed.
saturated solution of Mohr’s liquids.
salt + conc. H2SO4 is added
carefully along the sides of the
test tube.
Detection of third group acid radicals:
Barium chloride test:
Clear solution of salt + 2 drops A white precipitate 2−¿ ¿
III group acid radical SO 4 is present.
of barium chloride solution. insoluble in dil. HCl.
2−¿ ¿
Confirmatory test for SO 4 :
lead acetate test: A white precipitate is 2−¿ ¿
III group acid radical SO 4 is present and
Clear solution of salt + 2 drops formed which is soluble confirmed.
of lead acetate solution. in excess of hot
ammonium acetate
solution.

Ammonium Molybdate test:

1mL of salt solution + conc. Yellow precipitate III group acid radical PO 3−¿¿
4 is present.
HNO3 + Ammonium
Molybdate and heated.
Magnesia mixture test:
1mL of salt solution + White precipitate III group acid radical PO 4
3−¿¿
is present and
magnesia mixture. confirmed.

Detection of basic radicals: ( cations)

Detection of zero group basic radicals:
Sodium hydroxide test: Pungent smell of
+¿¿
A pinch of salt is heated with 5 ammonia which gives Zero group basic radical NH 4 is present.
drops of NaOH. dense white fumes with a
glass rod dipped in conc.
HCl is held on the mouth
of test tube.
+¿¿
Confirmatory test for NH 4 :
Nessler’s reagent test:
+¿¿
One drop of salt solution in Brown precipitate is Zero group basic radical NH 4 is present
water + 3 drops of Nessler’s formed and confirmed.
reagent
Preparation of original solution:
The given salt is taken in a clean test tube and it is dissolved in minimum amount of water or hot water or
dil. HCl.

Detection of group of cations:

Group I : 1 mL of OS + 1 mL
of dil. HCl
Group II : 1 mL of OS + 1 mL
of dil. HCl + H2S solution is
added
White precipitate. I group cations are absent
No precipitate I group cations Pb2+ is present
No precipitate II group cations are absent
Group III : 1 mL of OS + 2 mL A gelatinous white III group cations (Al3+) is present.
of NH4Cl + NH4OH solution in precipitate is formed.
excess

No precipitate III group cations are absent

Group IV : 1 mL of OS + 2 mL A white precipitate is IV group cations (Zn2+) is present.

of NH4Cl + NH4OH solution in formed.
excess + H2S solution is added

No precipitate IV group cations are absent

Group V : 1 mL of OS + 2 mL A white precipitate is V group cations is present.

of NH4Cl + NH4OH solution in formed.
excess + (NH4)2CO3 solution is
added
Confirmatory test for Pb2+:
Above precipitate is dissolved in minimum amount of hot water and divided into two parts.

Potassium Iodide test:

To first part 2-3 drops of Yellow precipitate I group basic radical Pb2+ is confirmed.
KI solution is added.
Potassium Chromate test:
To second part 2-3 drops of Yellow precipitate I group basic radical Pb2+ is confirmed.
K2CrO4 solution is added.
Confirmatory test for Al3+:
Above precipitate is dissolved in minimum amount of dil.HCl and divided into two parts.
Sodium hydroxide test:
To first part 2-3 drops of White precipitate soluble III group basic radical Al3+ is confirmed.
NaOH is added. in excess of NaOH
Lake test:
To second part 2-3 drops of Blue precipitate floating in III group basic radical Al3+ is confirmed.
blue litmus and then NH4OH is the colourless solution.
added dropwise.
Confirmatory test for Zn2+:
Sodium hydroxide test: A white precipitate soluble IV group basic radical Zn2+ is confirmed.
1 mL of O.S. + NaOH in excess of NaOH
dropwise

Potassium Ferrocyanide test:

1 mL of O.S. + Potassium Bluish white precipitate IV group basic radical Zn2+ is confirmed.
Ferrocyanide solution
Confirmatory test for V group cations:
Preciptate obtained is filtered and washed with water. Dissolved the ppt in minimum amount of hot dil.
Acetic acid and divided into three parts.
Test for Ba2+:
Potassium Chromate test:
First part of solution + 2-3 Yellow precipitate V group basic radical Ba2+ is confirmed.
drops of K2CrO4 solution.

Test for Sr2+:

Ammonium sulphate test:
Second part of solution + White precipitate V group basic radical Sr2+ is confirmed.
Ammonium sulphate solution.
Test for Ca2+:
Ammonium oxalate test:
Third part of solution + White precipitate V group basic radical Ca2+ is confirmed.
ammonium oxalate solution +
ammonium hydroxide. Sides
of test tubes are scratched.
Flame test:
A pinch of salt + few drops of Grassy green flame Ba2+ is confirmed.
conc. HCl, made into a paste. Crimson red flame Sr2+ is confirmed.
The paste is held to the flame Brick red flame Ca2+ is confirmed.
with the help of glass rod.
Confirmatory test for Mg2+:
Disodium hydrogen
phosphate test:
1mL of O.S. + 2 mL of NH4Cl White crystalline VI group basic radical Mg2+ is confirmed.
solution + excess of NH4OH + precipitate.
5 drops of Disodium hydrogen
phosphate.
Magneson reagent test:
1mL of O.S. + 2 mL of NH4Cl Yellow precipitate Mg2+ is confirmed.
solution + magneson reagent.

Result:

The given inorganic salt contains

Acid radical _____________ ( _____ group)

Basic radical _____________ ( _____ group)