SALT ANALYSIS

AIM: To identify the cation and anion present in the given inorganic salt.
Experiment Observation Inference
I. Preliminary tests: Physical examination
Colour of the salt is noted Colourless Absence of Cu2+, Fe2+, Fe3+,
Mn2+, Co2+, Ni2+
Odour of the salt is noted Ammoniacal smell NH4+ may be present
Vinegar like smell CH3COO- may be present
Deliquescence Salt absorbs moisture and May be Zn2+ or Mg2+
becomes like a paste
II. DRY HEATING TEST
A pinch of salt is heated in a. No residue May be (NH4)2CO3
a dry test tube.
b. Swelling May be Al3+

c. Sublimation May be Pb2+

d. Crackling sound -
with reddish brown May be NO3
fumes
e. Black residue
May be acetate
III. FLAME TEST
A little of salt is made into a. Brick red flame Ca2+ is present
a paste with conc. HCl b. Crimson red flame Sr2+ is present
with a glass rod and c. Green flame Ba2+ is present
shown into the flame with d. Dull white flame Pb2+ is present
a platinum loop

IV. COBALT NITRATE TEST (ASH TEST)

A little of salt is mixed a. Blue ash Al3+ is present
with conc.nitric acid and b. Green ash Zn2+ is present
cobalt nitrate. A filter c. Pale pink ash Mg2+ is present
paper dipped in it is burnt
into ash.

TESTS FOR ANIONS:

Experiment Observation Inference
Dil. H2SO4 test: Brisk effervescence with Presence of carbonate
To the salt add dil. H2SO4 evolution of colourless, ion, CO32-
odourless gas , turning
lime water milky.

Conc. H2SO4 test: a. Smell of vinegar Acetate is present.

To the salt add dil. H2SO4 CH3COO-
and heated gently. b. White fumes
Chloride is present, Cl-
c. Brown gas with
pungent smell Bromide is present,Br-

Add copper turnings to

the above test and d. Reddish brown gas Nitrate is present, NO3-
heated.
Test for oxalate ion: Pink colour of May be oxalate, C2O42-
Potassium permanganate KMnO4 disappears
test-
Take a pinch of the salt,
add few drops of Conc.
H2SO4 , warmed to 500C –
600C. Add 2-3 drops of
KMnO4
Test for acetate ion: Vinegar like smell Acetate is present,
Oxalic acid test – Take a CH3COO-
pinch of salt and mix with
oxalic acid and few drops
of water
Test for sulphate- Barium White ppt insoluble in Presence of sulphate,
chloride test excess of conc.HCl SO42-
To the salt add BaCl2
solution
TESTS FOR CATIONS:( GROUP ANALYSIS)
CONFIRMATORY TESTS FOR CATIONS:
1. AMMONIUM ION:

Sl No Experiment Observation Inference

1 Nessler’s test: Brown precipitate NH4+ is confirmed.

To the salt add

NaOH and heated
and add Nessler’s
reagent.

2. LEAD ION:

Sl No Experiment Observation Inference

1 Potassium iodide Yellow precipitate Pb2+ is confirmed.

test:

To the salt add KI

solution

2 Potassium Yellow precipitate Pb2+ is confirmed.

chromate test:

To the salt add

K2CrO4 solution.
 3. ALUMINIUM ION:

Sl No Experiment Observation Inference

1 Lake test: Blue precipitate Al3+ is confirmed.

Group III ppt is

dissolved in dil
HCl and add blue
litmus solution
followed by
NH4OH

4. ZINC ION:

Sl No Experiment Observation Inference

1 To the O.S add White precipitate Zn2+ is confirmed.

NaOH solution

2 To the salt add White/Blue precipitate Zn2+ is confirmed

potassium
ferrocyanide

5. CALCIUM ION:

Sl No Experiment Observation Inference

1 Ammonium White precipitate Ca2+ is confirmed.

oxalate:

To the group V ppt,

add dil acetic acid
and ammonium
oxalate solution.

6. STRONTIUM ION:
Sl No Experiment Observation Inference

1 Ammonium White precipitate Sr2+ is confirmed.

sulphate:

To the O.S add

ammonium
sulphate solution.

7. BARIUM ION:

Sl No Experiment Observation Inference

1 Potassium Yellow precipitate Ba2+ is confirmed.

chromate test:

To the group V
ppt, add dil acetic
acid, heated
cooled and add
K2CrO4 solution.

8. MAGNESIUM ION:

Sl No Experiment Observation Inference

1 Magneson Blue precipitate Mg2+ is confirmed.

reagent test:

To the O.S add

Magneson reagent
CONFIRMATORY TESTS FOR ANIONS:
1. CARBONATE ION:

Sl No Experiment Observation Inference

1 Lime water test: Lime water turns milky CO32- is confirmed.

To the salt add dil.

H2SO4 in a test
tube and pass the
gas through lime
water.

2. CHLORIDE ION:

Sl No Experiment Observation Inference

1 AgNO3 test: White precipitate Cl - is confirmed.

To the salt add

dil.HNO3,
heated,cooled and
add AgNO3
solution

3. BROMIDE ION:

Sl No Experiment Observation Inference

1 AgNO3 test: Pale yellow precipitate Br - is confirmed.

To the O.S add dil.

Nitric acid, heated,
cooled and add
AgNO3 solution
 4. NITRATE ION:

Sl No Experiment Observation Inference

1 Brown ring test: A brown ring is formed at NO3- is confirmed.

the junction of two layers
To the salt add
freshly prepared
FeSO4 solution and
add conc. H2SO4
through the sides
of test tube

5. OXALATE ION:

Sl No Experiment Observation Inference

1 Potassoium Pink colour disappears Oxalate ion is

permangante test: confirmed.

To the salt add

Conc.H2SO4 and
add potassium
permanganate
solution

6. ACETATE ION:

Sl No Experiment Observation Inference

1 FeCl3 test: Reddish brown precipitate CH3COO- is confirmed.

To the O.S add

neutral FeCl3
solution

7. SULPHATE ION:
Sl No Experiment Observation Inference

1 Lead acetate test: White precipitate SO42- is confirmed.

To the salt add lead

acetate solution