SALT ANALYSIS

Preliminary Observation

1)Colour and Crystalline

appearance Powder

2)Solubility Soluble in water

3)Flame Test Pale green flame May be Ba2+ is
Make the paste of present
the salt with conc Brick red coloured
HCl in a watch glass flame May be Ca2+ is
and dip a filter paper Else present
in the watch glass No flame colour
and show it to a Absence of Ba2+ and
clean flame. Ca2+

4)Ash Test Blue ash May be Al3+ is

Mix a pinch of the present
salt with conc HNO3 Green ash
and Cobalt Nitrate May be Zn2+ is
solution. A filter Pink ash present
paper dipped in it is
ignited. If ash colour black May be Mg2+ is
present

Absence of Mg2+
Zn2+ Al3+
 ANALYSIS OF ANIONS
S.No. EXPERIMENT OBSERVATION INFRENCE
Colourless, odourless CO2-3 may be
Add dilute H2SO4 to a
1. pinch of the salt.
gas with brisk
present.
effervescence.
CHEMICAL EQUATION INVOLVED
CaCO3 + H2SO4 CaSO4 + H2O + CO2
-
2. Note the smell. Odour of vinegar. May be CH3COO
CHEMICAL EQUATION INVOLVED
2CH3COONa + H2SO4 Na2SO4 + 2CH3COOH
Colour less gas with
pungent smell which
Add concentrated
produces dense
3. H2SO4 to a pinch of
white fumes with a
May be Cl-.
salt.
glass rod dipped in
NH4OH.
CHEMICAL EQUATION INVOLVED
NaCl + H2SO4 NaHSO4 + HCl
Brown fumes with
May be NO-3.
pungent smell.
CHEMICAL EQUATION INVOLVED
KNO3 + H2SO4 KHSO4 + HN O3
4HNO3 + C 4NO2 + CO2 + 2H2O
(Paper Pellet)

Boil a small quantity

of salt with dilute HCl
in a test tube. Then White precipitate is
4. add BaCl2solution to formed.
May be SO2-4 present.

the aqueous solution

of salt.
CHEMICAL EQUATION INVOLVED
NaSO4 + BaCl2 BaSO4 + 2 NaCl
(white ppt.)

1
 CONFIRMATORY TESTS FOR ANIONS
TEST FOR CARBONATES(CO3 )2-
Take a pinch of salt
add dilute H2SO4 and Lime water turns
(1) CO2-3 confirmed.
pass the gas through milky.
lime water.
CHEMICAL EQUATION INVOLVED
CaCO3 + H2SO4 CaSO4 + CO2 + H2O
Ca(OH)2+CO2 CaCO3 + H2O
( lime water ) (milkiness)
To the aqueous
solution of salt add an White precipitate is
(2) CO2-3 confirmed.
aqueous solution of formed.
MgSO4.
CHEMICAL EQUATION INVOLVED
CaCO3+MgSO4 MgCO3 + Na2SO4
(white ppt.)
-
TEST FOR ACETATE(CH3COO )
Ester test
Take a pinch of salt in
a dry test tube; add 1
(1) ml concentrated CH3COO- confirmed.
Pleasant fruity smell.
H2SO4 with 2 ml
rectified spirit. Heat
gently for several
minutes.
CHEMICAL EQUATION INVOLVED
2CH3COONa + H2SO4 Na2SO4 + 2 CH3COOH
CH3COOH + C2H5OH CH3COOC2H5 + H2O
(ethlyacetate)
Ferric chloride test
Add a few drops of Deep red colouration. CH3COO- confirmed.
(2)
neutral FeCl3 solution
to the salt solution.

2
 CHEMICAL EQUATION INVOLVED
3CH3COONa +FeCl3 (CH3COO)3Fe + 3NaCl
(CH3COO)3Fe + 2H2O (CH3COO)(OH)2Fe + 2CH3COOH
(reddish brown ppt.)
-
TEST FOR CHLORIDE(Cl )
Silver nitrate test
Add dilute HNO3 to
the aqueous solution White ppt. soluble in
(1) Cl- confirmed.
of salt, boil for some NH4OH.
time, cool it and add
AgNO3 solution.
CHEMICAL EQUATION INVOLVED
NaCl + AgNO3 AgCl + NaNO3
(white ppt.)
AgCl + 2NH4OH [Ag(NH3)2]Cl + 2H2O
(soluble complex)
Chromyl chloride
test Red vapours of
(2) Mix some salt with chromyl chloride Cl- confirmed.
powdered K2Cr2O7. observed.
Add some conc. H2SO4
and heat.
CHEMICAL EQUATION INVOLVED
4NaCl + K2Cr2O7 + 3H2SO4 2Na2SO4 + K2SO4 + 2CrO2Cl2 + 3H2O
(Chromyl Chloride)
CrO2Cl2 + 4NaOH Na2CrO4 + 2H2O + 2NaCl
(Chromyl Chloride) (sodium ethonate)
Pass the gas through
NH4OH.Add dilute Yellow colour
Cl- confirmed.
CH3COOH and lead precipitate is formed.
acetate solution.
CHEMICAL EQUATION INVOLVED
Na2CrO4 + (CH3COO)2Pb PbCrO4 + 2CH3COONa
Lead Chromate
(yellow ppt.)

3
 TEST FOR NITRATE (NO3-)
Diphenyl amine
test
To the aqueous Deep blue
(1) NO-3 confirmed.
solution of salt add a colouration.
few drops of diphenyl
amine.
CHEMICAL EQUATION INVOLVED
KNO3 + H2SO4 KHSO4 + HNO3
Brown ring test
To the aqueous
solution of the salt
and add freshly A dark brown ring is
(2) prepared FeSO4 formed at the function NO-3 confirmed.
solution and shake of two layers.
well. Add conc. H2SO4
along the sides of test
tubes.
CHEMICAL EQUATION INVOLVED
6FeSO4 + H2SO4 + HNO3 3Fe2(SO4)3 + 4 H2O +2Na
FeSO4 + NO + 5 H2O [Fe(NO)(H2O)5]SO4
(brown ring)

TEST FOR SULPHATES(SO2-4)

To the aqueous
solution of the salt
(1) add lead acetate
White ppt. is formed. SO2-4 confirmed.
solution.
CHEMICAL EQUATION INVOLVED
Na2SO4+Pb(CH3COO)2 PbSO4 + 2CH3COONa

4
 ANALYSIS OF CATIONS
S.NO. EXPERIMENT OBSERVATION INFERENCE

A. To the dry salt add

Characteristic smell of
1. NaOH solution and Presence of NH4+
ammonia.
warm gently.
CHEMICAL EQUATION INVOLVED
NH4Cl + NaOH NaCl + H2O + NH3
B. Show a glass rod
Evolution of dense
dipped in HCl near Presence of NH4+
the mouth of test white fumes.
tube.
CHEMICAL EQUATION INVOLVED
NH3+ HCl NH4Cl
white fumes
To the aqueous A white precipitate is
2. solution of salt add Presence of Pb2+
formed.
dilute HCl.
CHEMICAL EQUATION INVOLVED
Pb(NO3)2 +2HCl PbCl2 + 2HNO3

Pass H2s gas through A black precipitate is

3. May be Cu2+
the above solution. formed.
CHEMICAL EQUATION INVOLVED
CuCl2 + H2S 2HCl + CuS
(black precipitate)
To the aqueous
A white gelatinous May be Al3+
solution of salt add
precipitate is formed.
4. solid ammonium
chloride, boil it, cool
it and then add
1
 ammonium
hydroxide in excess.
CHEMICAL EQUATION INVOLVED
AlCl3 + 3NH4OH 3NH4Cl + Al(OH)3

Pass H2S gas through A dirty white Presence of Zn2+

5. a part of above precipitate is formed.
solution.
CHEMICAL EQUATION INVOLVED
Zn(OH)2 + H2S 2H2O + ZnS
(white ppt.)
To the remaining
ammonical solution
add freshly prepared A white precipitate is Presence of Ba2+.
6. formed.
Ammonium
Carbonate Solution,
warm it.
CHEMICAL EQUATION INVOLVED
BaCl2 + (NH4)2CO3 BaCO3 + 2NH4Cl

CONFIRMATORY TESTS
1. TEST FOR AMMONIUM ION
Heat the salt with
concentrated NaOH A reddish brown NH4+ confirmed.
solution and pass gas precipitate is formed.
through nesslers
reagent.
CHEMICAL EQUATION INVOLVED

[HgI4] + NH3 + 3KOH HgN.HgO.HgI + 7KI + 2H2O

2
 2. TEST FOR Pb2+
Filter the precipitate,
boil it with water and
divide it into 2 parts
a. To the first part Yellow precipitate is Pb2+
add KI solution. formed. confirmed.

CHEMICAL EQUATION INVOLVED

PbCl2 + 2KI PbI2 + 2KCl
hot solution yellow ppt.

b.To second part Yellow precipitate is Pb2+

add K2CrO4 solution. formed. confirmed.

CHEMICAL EQUATION INVOLVED

PbCl2 + K2CrO4 PbCrO4 + 2KCl
hot solution yellow ppt.

3. Test for Cu2+

Dissolve black
precipitate in dilute
HNO3 and divide into
two.
a. Add ammonium a. Deep blue solution is Cu2+ confirmed.
hydroxide solution formed.
to one part.
CHEMICAL EQUATION INVOLVED
3CuS + 8HNO3 Cu(NO3)2 + 4H2O + 2NO +3S
Cu(NO3)2 + 4NH4OH [Cu(NH3)4][NO3]2 + 4H2O
(blue solution)
b. Acidify salt solution
b. Chocolate coloured
with dilute acetic Cu2+ confirmed.
precipitate is formed.
acid and add a few
drops of potassium
ferro cyanide.

3
 CHEMICAL EQUATION INVOLVED

[Cu(NH3)4]SO4 + 4CH3COOH CuSO4 + 4CH3COONH4

2CuSO4 + K4[Fe(CN)6] Cu2[Fe(CN)6] + 2K2SO4
chocolate brown colour

4. Test for Al3+

Filter the precipitate,
dissolve in dilute HCl Blue lake floating on Al3+ is confirmed.
followed by addition colourless solution.
of one or two drops
of blue litmus. Then
add NH4OH from side
of test tube.
CHEMICAL EQUATION INVOLVED
Al(OH)3 + 3HCl AlCl3 +3H2O dissolution.......
AlCl3 +3NH4OH 3NH4Cl + Al(OH)3
blue colour adsorbs
on this ppt.

5. Test for Zn2+

Filter the precipitate
and add minimum
amount of dilute HCl
and boil off H2S gas.
Divide it into two
parts.
CHEMICAL EQUATION INVOLVED
ZnS + 2HCl ZnCl2 + H2S

a. To first part add a. Bluish white

Zn2+ confirmed.
potassium ferro precipitate is
cyanide solution. formed.
CHEMICAL EQUATION INVOLVED
2ZnCl2 + K4[Fe(CN)6] Zn2[Fe(CN)6] + 4KCl
Bluish-white ppt.

4
 b. To the second part b. White precipitate is
add NaOH Zn2+ confirmed.
formed.
solution.
CHEMICAL EQUATION INVOLVED
ZnCl2 + 2NaOH Zn(OH)2 + 2NaCl
white ppt.
Zn(OH)2 + 2NaOH Na2ZnO2 + 2H2O
white ppt. soluble

6. Test for Ba2+

Dissolve precipitate
in minimum amount
of dilute acetic acid,
boil off CO2 and
divide it into 2 parts.
CHEMICAL EQUATION INVOLVED
BaCO3 + 2CH3COOH (CH3COO)2Ba + CO2 + H2O

a. To one part add Yellow precipitate is Ba2+ confirmed.

few drops of formed.
potassium
chromate solution.
CHEMICAL EQUATION INVOLVED
(CH3COO)2Ba + K2CrO4 2CH3COOK + BaCrO4
yellow ppt
b. Make a paste of
salt with Grassy green flame. Ba2+ confirmed.
concentrated HCl
and conduct flame
test.

5
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