GENERAL PROCEDURE FOR THE

SYSTEMATIC ANALYSIS OF A SIMPLE SALT

I. PRELIMINARY TESTS

S. EXPERIMENT OBSERVATION INFERENCE

No.
1 SOLUBILITY 1) Soluble 1) May be Sulphate,
Nitrate,
A little of the salt is Chloride orAmmonium
shaken with water. Carbonate.

2) Insoluble 2) May be Carbonate or

Sulphide.
2 ACTION OF HEAT: 1) Colourless, 1) May beCarbonate.
odourless gas turning
A small amount of the salt limewater milky.
is heated gently in a dry
test tube.
2) Decripitation occurs 2) May
with evolution be Nitrate.
of reddish browngas.

3) Salt sublimes with 3) May beAmmonium.

evolution of pungent
smelling gas giving
dense white fumes with
a glass rod dipped in
conc
HCl.

4) The white salt 4) May be Zinc.

turnsyellow on
heating.
5) No characteristic 5) Absence of Carbonate,
change. Nitrate, Ammonium and
Zinc.
 3 FLAME TEST:
A small amount of the salt
is made into a paste
withconc. HCl in a watch
glass and introduced into
the non-luminous part of
the Bunsen flame.
4 ASH TEST:
A filter paper is soaked
into a paste of the salt
withconc. HCl and Cobal
t Nitrate solution in a
watch glass and burnt.
II. TESTS FOR ACID RADICALS
5 ACTION OF DIL HCl
To a small amount of the
saltdilute HCl is added.
6 COPPER TURNINGS
TEST:
1) Bluish colour flame. 1) Presence of Copper.
2) Brick red flame. 2) Presence of Calcium.
3) Grassy green flame. 3) Presence of Barium.
4) No characteristic 4) Absence of Copper,
coloured flame. Calcium and Barium.
1) Green ash. 1) Presence of Zinc.
2) Blue ash. 2) Presence
ofAluminium.
3) Pink ash. 3) Presence
ofMagnesium.
4) No characteristic 4) Absence of Zinc,
coloured ash. Aluminium and
Magnesium.
1) Brisk 1) Carbonate is
effervescenceof confirmed.
colourless, odourlessgas
turning lime water
milky.
2) Rotten egg smelling 2) Sulphide is
gas turning lead acetate confirmed.
paper black.
3) No characteristic 3) Absence of
change. Sulphide / Carbonate.
1) Reddish brown 1) Presence
gas is evolved. ofNitrate.
 A small amount of the salt is
heated with Copper
Turnings and a few drops
ofconc. Sulphuric acid.
7 CHROMYL CHLORIDE
TEST:
To a small amount of the
substance a pinch
ofPotassium Dichromate is
added and heated with few
drops of conc. Sulphuric
acid.
2) No reddish brown gas 2) Absence of Nitrate.
is evolved.
1) Red 1) Chloride is
orange vapoursevolved confirmed.
are passed through water
to get a yellow solution,
which on adding lead
acetateforms
a yellowprecipitate.
2) No Red orange 2) Absence of
vapours. chloride.
1) Pungent smelling gas 1) Presence of
forming dense white Ammonium.
fumes with a glass rod
dipped in conc. HCl and
also turns litmus
paper blue.
2) No pungent smelling 2) Absence of
gas. Ammonium.
 8 ACTION OF NaOH:
A small amount of the
substance is heated
withSodium Hydroxide.
1) Pungent smelling 1) Presence
gasforming dense ofAmmonium.
whitefumes with a glass
rod dipped in conc.
HCl and also turns
litmus paper blue.

2) No pungent smelling 2) Absence of

gas. Ammonium.

III. TESTS WITH SODIUM CARBONATE EXTRACT

9. PREPARATION OF SODIUM CARBONATE EXTRACT:
A small amount of salt is mixed with twice the amount of sodium carbonate and 20ml of distilled water is
added, boiled for 10 minutes, cooled and filtered. The filtrate is called “SODIUM CARBONATE
EXTRACT”.

S. EXPERIMENT OBSERVATION INFERENCE

No
10 BARIUM CHLORIDE 1) A white 1) Sulphate is
TEST: precipitate,insoluble in confirmed.
conc. HCl.
To a few drops of the
extract,dilute Hydrochloric 2) No white precipitate. 2) Absence of
Acid is added until the Sulphate
effervescence ceases and
2ml of Barium
chloride solution is added.
11 SILVER NITRATE TEST: 1) A curdy white 1) Presence
precipitate, soluble in ofChloride.
To a few drops of the excess of ammonium
extractdilute Nitric Acid is hydroxide.
added until the effervescence
ceases and 2ml of Silver
Nitratesolution is added.
2) A black precipitate. 2) Presence
ofSulphide.
3) No precipitate. 3) Absence of
chloride/ sulphide.

12 BROWN RING TEST: 1) Brown ring is 1) Nitrate is

formed at the junction of confirmed.
To a few drops of extract the two layers.
dilute Sulphuric acid is
added until the effervescence
 ceases, then freshly
prepared.
2) No brown ring. 2) Absence of Nitrate.

IV .IDENTIFICATION OF THE BASIC RADICALS

13. PREPARATION OF ORIGINAL SOLUTION:
The original solution is prepared by dissolving the salt in
# Water (When the salt is water soluble)
# Dil. HCl (When the salt is water insoluble)
# Hot mixture of dil. HCl + dil. HNO3 (When the salt is sulphide)
14. GROUP IDENTIFICATION

S. EXPERIMENT OBSERVATION INFERENCE

No
1 To a few drops of the 1) White precipitate. 1) Presence of First
original solution 2ml Group. (Lead).
ofdilute HCl acid is
added. 2) No characteristic 2) Absence of First
precipitate. Group (Lead).

2 To a few drops of the 1) Black precipitate. 1) Presence of Second

original solution 2ml Group (Copper).
ofdilute HCl acid
and H2Sgas is passed. 2) No characteristic 2) Absence of Second
precipitate. Group (Copper).

3 To a few drops of the 1) Gelatinous 1) Presence of Third

original solution whiteprecipitate. Group (Aluminium).
1mlNH4Cl and
2ml NH4OHsolutions are 2) No characteristic 2) Absence of Third
added. precipitate. Group (Aluminium /
Ferric).

4 To a few drops of the 1) Dirty 1) Presence of Fourth

original solution whiteprecipitate. Group (Zinc).
1mlNH4Cl and
2ml NH4OHsolutions are 2) No characteristic 2) Absence of Fourth
added andH2S gas is precipitate. Group (Zinc).
passed.
5 To a few drops of the 1) White precipitate. 1) Presence of Fifth
original solution Group (Calcium /
1mlNH4Cl, Barium).
2ml NH4OH and
2ml (NH4)2CO3 solutions 2) No characteristic 2) Absence of Fifth
are added. precipitate. Group (Calcium /
Barium).
6 To a few drops of the 1) White precipitate. 1) Presence of Sixth
original solution Group (Magnesium).
1mlNH4Cl,
2ml NH4OH and 2ml Di
Sodium 2) No characteristic 2) Absence of Sixth
HydrogenPhosphate are precipitate. Group (Magnesium).
added.

V .CONFIRMATORY TESTS FOR BASIC RADICALS

S. EXPERIMENT OBSERVATION INFERENCE

No
AMMONIUM
1 Original solution + Sodium Reddish Ammonium is
Hydroxide + Nessler’s brownprecipitate. confirmed.
reagent.
First group - LEAD
1 Original solution Yellow precipitate. Lead is confirmed.
+Potassium Chromate.
2 Original solution Yellow precipitatesoluble Lead is confirmed.
+ Potassium Iodide. in hot water which
reappears as golden
yellow spangles on
cooling.

Third group - ALUMINIUM

1 Original solution + Sodium White precipitate Aluminium is
Hydroxide in drops soluble in excess of confirmed.
toexcess. sodium hydroxide.

2 Original solution A bright red lake. Aluminium is

+Ammonium confirmed.
Hydroxide +Aluminon
reagent.
Fourth group - ZINC
 1 Original solution + Sodium White precipitate Zinc is confirmed.
Hydroxide soluble in excess of
sodium hydroxide.

2 Original solution White Zinc is

+Potassium Ferro cyanide. precipitatesoluble in confirmed.
excess of sodium
hydroxide & insoluble in
dilute acid.
Fifth group - CALCIUM
1 Original solution No precipitate. Calcium is
+Potassium Chromate. confirmed.
2 Original solution White Calcium is
+Ammonium Hydroxide + precipitateinsoluble in confirmed.
Ammonium Oxalate. acetic acid.

Fifth group - BARIUM

1 Original solution Yellow precipitate, Barium is
+Potassium Chromate. soluble in acid. confirmed.

2 Original solution + Dilute White precipitate Barium is

Sulphuric Acid. insoluble in acetic acid. confirmed.

Sixth group - MAGNESIUM

1 Original solution + Sodium White precipitate, Magnesium
Hydroxide. insoluble in excess of isconfirmed.
sodium hydroxide.

2 Original solution Blue precipitate. Magnesium is

+ Magneson reagent. confirmed.

RESULT

The given simple salt contains

1. Basic Radical : __________________

2. Acid Radical : __________________

Salt Analysis
Salt Analysis of Cations and Anions
CATIONS : Pb2+ ,Hg2+ ,Cu2+ ,Cd2+ , Ag+ , Fe2+ , Fe3+ , Al3+ , Zn2+ , Mn2+, Co2+ , Sr2+ , Ba2+ , Mg2+ , NH4+
ANIONS : CO32- , S2- , SO32- , SO42- , NO2- , NO3- , Cl- , Br2- , PO43- , CH3COO-

Below we are providing a download link for Salt Analysis Chart which can be useful for Class 12
Chemistry students.The file is in ‘PDF’ format and contains procedure for all tests.

Cations
Group Group Reagent Radicals
NH4+
Zero Group O.S. + NaOH + Heat

Pb2+
I Group O.S. + HCl

O.S. + HCI + H2S Cu2+

II Group

O.S. +NH4Cl + NH4OH AI2+ ,Fe3+

III Group

O.S. + NH4CI + NH4OH +H2S Ni2+ ,Mn2+ , Zn2+ ,Co2+

IV Group

O.S. + NH4CI + NH4OH +(NH4)2CO3 Ba2+, Ca3+, Sr2+

V Group

O.S + NH4CI + NH4OH + NaH2PO4 Mg2+

VI Group

Preliminary Tests
Anions
Group Group Reagent Radicals
Salt + dil. H2SO4 CO32-, SO32-, S2-,
I Group NO2-
 Salt + conc. H2SO4 Cl-, Br-, I-, CH3COO-
II Group

NO-
Add Cu piece and heat

Add KMnO4 soln. c2o42-

O.S. + BaC!2 so42-

III Group

O.S + Conc.HNO3 + Heat + PO43-

IV Group (NH4)24 MoO

Test Observation Inference

Physical Appearance

NH4+, Pb2+, Al3+ , Zn2+, Ba2+,

Colour White Ca2+ , Sr2+ and Mg2+
Cu2+
Blue

Ni2+
Green

Fe3+
Brown

Co2+
Red

Mn2+
Light pink

Odour Smell of NH3 NH4+

CH3COO-
Smell of vinegar

S2-
Smell of rotten eggs

Dry Heating CO32- , SO32-, S2- and Cl-

Colourless gas evolved
 Br-, NO3-
Blown gas evolved

I-
Violet gas evolved

Pb(NO3)2 and Ba(NO3)2

Crackling sound

Cu2+
Brown residue

Flame Test Cu2+

Greenish blue

Ba2+
Light green

Ca2+
Brick red

Sr2+
Crimson red

Qualitative analysis is used to separate and detect cations andanions in a sample substance. In an
educational setting, it is generally true that the concentrations of the ions to be identified are all
approximately 0.01 M in an aqueous solution. The 'semimicro' level of qualitative analysis employs
methods used to detect 1-2 mg of an ion in 5 mL of solution.

First, ions are removed in groups from the initial aqueous solution. After each group has been
separated, then testing is conducted for the individual ions in each group. Here is a common grouping
of cations:

Group I: Ag+, Hg22+, Pb2+

Precipitated in 1 M HCl

Group II: Bi3+, Cd2+, Cu2+, Hg2+, (Pb2+), Sb3+ and Sb5+, Sn2+ and Sn4+
Precipitated in 0.1 M H2S solution at pH 0.5

Group III: Al3+, (Cd2+), Co2+, Cr3+, Fe2+ and Fe3+, Mn2+, Ni2+, Zn2+
Precipitated in 0.1 M H2S solution at pH 9
Group IV: Ba2+, Ca2+, K+, Mg2+, Na+, NH4+
Ba2+, Ca2+, and Mg2+ are precipitated in 0.2 M (NH4)2CO3 solution at pH 10; the other ions are soluble

Many reagents are used in qualitative analysis, but only a few are involved in nearly every group
procedure. The four most commonly used reagents are 6M HCl, 6M HNO3, 6M NaOH, 6M NH3.
Understanding the uses of the reagents is helpful when planning an analysis.

Next: Complex Ions and Precipitation Reactions

Common Qualitative Analysis Reagents
Reagent Effects
6M HCl Increases [H+]
Increases [Cl-]
Decreases [OH-]
Dissolves insoluble carbonates, chromates, hydroxides, some sulfates
Destroys hydroxo and NH3 complexes
Precipitates insoluble chlorides
6M HNO3 Increases [H+]
Decreases [OH-]
Dissolves insoluble carbonates, chromates, and hydroxides
Dissolves insoluble sulfides by oxidizing sulfide ion
Destroys hydroxo and ammonia complexes
Good oxidizing agent when hot
6 M NaOH Increases [OH-]
Decreases [H+]
Forms hydroxo complexes
Precipitates insoluble hydroxides
6M NH3 Increases [NH3]
Increases [OH-]
Decreases [H+]
Precipitates insoluble hydroxides
Forms NH3 complexes
Forms a basic buffer with NH4+
 Salt Analysis

Cations
Group Group Reagent Radicals

Zero Group O.S. + NaOH + Heat NH4+

I Group O.S. + HCl Pb2+

II Group O.S. + HCI + H2S Cu2+

III Group O.S. +NH4Cl + NH4OH AI2+ ,Fe3+

IV Group O.S. + NH4CI + NH4OH +H2S Ni2+ ,Mn2+ , Zn2+ ,Co2+

V Group O.S. + NH4CI + NH4OH +(NH4)2CO3 Ba2+, Ca3+, Sr2+

VI Group O.S + NH4CI + NH4OH + NaH2PO4 Mg2+

Anions
Group Group Reagent Radicals

I Group Salt + dil. H2SO4 CO32-, SO32-, S2-, NO2-

II Group Salt + conc. H2SO4 Cl-, Br-, I-, CH3COO-

Add Cu piece and heat NO-

Add KMnO4 soln. c2o42-

III Group O.S. + BaC!2 so42-

IV Group O.S + Conc.HNO3 + Heat + (NH4)24 MoO PO43-

Preliminary Tests
Test Observation Inference

Physical Appearance

Colour White NH4+, Pb2+, Al3+ , Zn2+, Ba2+,

Ca2+ , Sr2+ and Mg2+

Blue Cu2+

Green Ni2+

Brown Fe3+

Red Co2+

Light pink Mn2+

Odour Smell of NH3 NH4+

Smell of vinegar CH3COO-

Smell of rotten eggs H2-

Dry Heating Colourless gas evolved CO32- , SO32-, S2- and Cl-

Blown gas evolved Br-, NO3-

Violet gas evolved I-

Crackling sound Pb(NO3)2 and Ba(NO3)2

Brown residue Cu2+

Flame Test Greenish blue Cu2+

Light green Ba2+

Brick red Ca2+

Crimson red Sr2+