Experiment 12

AIM : To identify the acid and basic radical present in the given inorganic salt.

PRELIMINARY EXAMINATIONS:

Colour: White

Texture: Crystalline

Solubility: Soluble in water

EXPERIMENT OBSERVATION INFERENCE

Dry Heating Test
A pinch of salt is taken in a Colourless gas with characteristic NH4+ may be present
clean and dry test tube. ammonical smell
Charcoal Cavity Test
A pinch of salt and double its No characteristic observation Zn2+, Pb2+, Cu2+, Ba2+, Ca2+, Mg2+
quantity of Na2CO3 is taken in are absent.
a charcoal cavity and is
moistened with a drop of
water. The reducing flame of
burner is then directed
towards the cavity with the
help of a blow pipe.
Tests for Acid Radical-
Dilute H2SO4 test:
A pinch of salt is taken in a No characteristic observation CO32-, SO32-, S2-, NO2- are absent.
test tube and 1-2 ml of dil.
H2SO4 is added to it.
Conc. H2SO4 test:
A pinch of salt is taken in a dry Colourless gas which burns with pale- C2O42- may be present.
test tube and 1-2 ml of conc. blue flame and turns lime water milky.
H2SO4 is added ti it and is
warmed.
Confirmatory tests for Acid
radical (C2O42- ion):
(1) KMnO4 Test: The pink colour of KMnO4 solution C2O42- is confirmed.
A pinch of salt is taken in a decolourized with effervescence.
test tube and dil. H2SO4 is
added to it. The test tube is
slightly warmed. 2-3 drops of
KMnO4 solution is then added
to it.
(2) Calcium chloride test:
The salt solution is acidified A white precipitate is obtained. C2O42- is confirmed.
with acetic acid. The solution
is then boiled and CaCl2 is
added to it. The precipitate dissolved.
Dil. HNO3 is added to the
white precipitate and
warmed.
Tests for Basic Radical:
Test for 0 Group:
A pinch of salt is taken in a Ammonical smell which gives thick white NH4+ is present.
test tube and 1-2 ml of NaOH fumes when a glass rod dipped in dil. HCl
solution is added to it. The is brought near the mouth of the test
solution is then heated. tube.
Nessler’s Reagent Test:
The gas evolved above is Brown precipitate is obtained. NH4+ is confirmed.
passed through Nessler’s
reagent.

RESULT:

NH4+ (basic radical) and C2O42- (acid radical) are present in the given inorganic salt.