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SALT ANALYSIS

I. PRELIMINARY TESTS

Sl. EXPERIMENT OBSERVATION INFERENCE

No
1 Colour and appearance is a) Colourless Absence of Cu2+ , Ni2+, Fe2+ or
noted Mn2+ may be present

2 Odour is noted Smell of ammonia Presence of NH4+

Smell of vinegar Presence of acetate
No characteristic smell Absence of NH4+ and acetate

3 Solubility is noted Soluble Absence of insoluble salts like

certain carbonates

4 Flame test: A little of the salt Pale green Presence of Ba2+

is made into a paste with con. Presence of Sr2+
HCl taken in a watch glass. A Crimson red
Brick red Presence of Ca2+
little of the paste is shown in
the non-luminous flame by a
glass rod.

Ash test
5
A little of the salt is dissolved
Blue ash Presence of Al3+
in con.HNO3 and added and
boiled with a few drops of
Green ash Presence of Zn2+
cobalt nitrate solution. A filter
paper dipped in it is burnt to
Pink ash Presence of Mg2+
ashes
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II. ANALYSIS OF ANIONS

1 Test for carbonate:

Test with dil.HCl
A little of the salt is treated Brisk effervescence with the evolution of Presence of CO32- ion
with dil. HCl. colourless and odourless gas
CaCO3+2HCl → CaCl2 +H2O+CO2↑
Confirmatory test:
1. The gas obtained above The lime water turned milky Presence of CO32- is
is passed through lime Ca (OH)2+CO2 → Ca CO3 + H2O confirmed
water

2. A little of the salt

solution is treated with White precipitate soluble in dil.HCl Presence of CO32-
BaCl2 solution. CaCO3 +BaCl 2 → BaCO3 +CaCl2 confirmed.

2 Test for acetate:

Test with dil. H2SO4
smell of vinegar
To the salt added dil. H2SO4. Presence of
CH3COONa + H2SO4 → CH3COOH
Rub it and smell it. +NaHSO4 CH3COO-

Confirmatory test:
Ferric chloride test Reddish coloured filtrate
To a little of the salt solution
added neutral FeCl3 soln.
Filter and divide into two
portions.
Reddish colour disappears
1. To one part added Presence of acetate is
dil.HCl confirmed
Reddish brown ppt.
2. To the 2nd part added
water and boil.

3CH3COONa+FeCl3 → (CH3COO)3Fe +3NaCl

(CH3COO)3Fe +H2O → (CH3COO)(OH)Fe↓ +
2CH3COOH Reddish brown ppt
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Test for Chloride: A colourless pungent smelling gas which Presence of Cl-.
Test with con.H2SO4 gives dense white fumes when a glass rod
To the salt, added Con. dipped in NH4OH is held to the mouth of the
H2SO4 and heat it. test tube.
NaCl +H2SO4 → NaHSO4 + HCl
HCl + NH4OH → NH4Cl + H2O

Confirmatory test: Presence of chloride

1.Silver nitrate test A white curdy ppt. is formed which is confirmed.
Acidify a portion of the salt soluble in NH 4OH solution
solution with dil.HNO3. Boil NaCl + AgNO3→ AgCl+NaNO3
it. After cooling added White ppt
AgNO3 solution. AgCl + 2 NH4OH → [Ag(NH3)]Cl + 2H2O
soluble

2.Chromyl chloride test Presence of chloride

Mix a small quantity of the A yellow ppt is formed confirmed.
salt with small amount of 4NaCl + K2Cr2O7 + 3H2SO4 → 2Na2SO4 +
powdered potassium K2SO4 + 2CrO2Cl2 + 3H2O
dichromate. Take the mixture Chromylchloride
in a test tube and added CrO2Cl2 + 4NaOH → Na2CrO4 + 2H2O +
con.H2SO4. Heat it and pass 2NaCl Sodium chromate
the red vapours evolved into
NaOH soln. To the yellow Na2CrO4 + (CH3COO)2Pb → PbCrO4 +
soln. obtained added 2CH3COONa Lead chromate
dil.acetic acid and lead (yellow ppt)
acetate soln.
4
Presence of NO32-

Test for nitrate: a) Brown fumes is formed

Test with con. H2SO4 and kNO3+H2SO4 → kHSO4+HNO3
paper ball 4HNO3 + C → 4NO2+2H2O+CO2
To a little of salt added con.
H2SO4 heated, then added
paper ball.
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Presence of nitrate is
confirmed
Confirmatory test: A brown ring is formed at the junction of the
Brown ring test two liquids
Mix equal amount of salt KNO3 + H2SO4 → KHSO4 + HNO3
solution and ferrous sulphate 6FeSO4 + 3H2SO4 + 2HNO3 → 3Fe2(SO4)3 +
solution. Then added con. 4H2O + 2NO
H2SO4 carefully along the FeSO4 + NO + 5H2O → [Fe(NO)(H2O)5]SO4
5 sides of the test tube

Presence of SO42-

Test for sulphate:

Test with barium chloride White ppt insoluble in dil. HCl
A little of the salt solution is Na2SO4+BaCl 2 → BaSO4 +2NaCl
treated with BaCl2 solution . white ppt Presence of sulphate
is confirmed.

Confirmatory test: White ppt. is formed

A little of the salt solution, Na2SO4 + Pb(CH3COO)2 → PbSO4 +
2CH3COONa white ppt
added lead acetate solution
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III. ANALYSIS OF CATIONS

Test for zero group:

1
A little of the salt is Smell of ammonia Presence of NH4+ ion
heated with NaOH
solution NH4Cl + NaOH → NH3 ↑+ H2O+NaCl
Confirmatory test:
1. Bring a glass rod White fumes Presence of NH4+ is
dipped in dil.HCl to the
NH3 + HCl → NH4Cl confirmed
mouth of the test tube.

2.Nessler’s reagent test

A brown ppt. is formed Presence of NH4+ is
To the salt solution added
Nessler’s reagent. 2K2[HgI4] + NH3 + 3KOH → H2N.HgO.HgI↓ confirmed
Nessler’s ragent Brown ppt
+ 7KI + 2H2O

Test for group I:

(reagent dil.HCl)
2 To the salt solution added a) White ppt. a) Presence of Pb2+ ion

dil.HCl Pb(NO3)2 + 2HCl → PbCl2↓ + 2HNO3

Confirmatory test:
Filter and wash the above Precipitate dissolves Presence of lead is
ppt with cold water. Boil confirmed.
it. Divide into 3 parts.
1. Cool one part of the White crystalline ppt. seperates out Presence of lead is
solution confirmed.
2.KI test Yellow ppt. Presence of lead is
Added KI solution to the PbCl2 + 2KI → PbI2↓ + 2KCl confirmed.
2nd part of the solution
3.K2CrO4 test
Added K2CrO4 to the 3rd Yellow ppt. Presence of lead is
part of the solution. PbCl2 + K2CrO4 → PbCrO4↓ + 2KCl confirmed.
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3 Test for group II:

(reagent dil.HCl + H2S)
A little of the salt solution is Black ppt Presence of Cu2+ ion
treated with dil.HCl and pass H2S

4 Test for group III:

(reagent NH4Cl + NH4OH)
To the salt solution added solid A white gelatinous ppt. Presence of Al3+ ion
NH4Cl and boil it. Then cool the AlCl3 + 3NH4OH → 3NH4Cl +
solution and added excess of Al(OH)3↓
NH4OH and shake. White ppt
Confirmatory test:
1.Ash test
A little of the salt is dissolved in Presence of Al3+ is confirmed
con.HNO3 and added and boiled Blue ash
with a few drops of cobalt nitrate Chemistry: Blue ash is formed due to
solution. A filter paper dipped in the formation of double oxide of cobalt
it is burnt to ashes. and aluminum. (CoO.Al2O3)

2. Dissolve the white gelatinous Presence of Al3+ is confirmed

ppt. in dil.HCl. Added to it few Blue ppt. floating in the colourless
drops of blue litmus solution. To solution.
this added NH4OH drop wise till Al(OH)3 + 3HCl → AlCl3 + 3H2O
blue colour develops. AlCl3 + 3NH4OH → 3NH4Cl +
Al(OH)3 ↓
Blue colour absorbs
on this ppt
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5 Test for group IV:

(reagent NH4Cl,NH4OH +
H2S)
To a little of the salt
solution added solid Dirty white ppt. Presence of Zn2+
NH4Cl and boil. After
cooling added excess Zn (OH)2 + H2S → ZnS ↓ + 2H2O
NH4OH. Then pass H2S White ppt
through it.
Confirmatory test:
1.Ash test
A little of the salt is
dissolved in con.HNO3 and Green Ash Presence of Zn2+ is
added and boiled with a Chemistry: Green ash is formed due to the confirmed
few drops of cobalt nitrate formation of double oxide of zinc and cobalt.
solution. A filter paper (ZnO.CoO)
dipped in it is burnt to
ashes.
2. Dissolve the white ppt. A white ppt. is obtained Presence of Zn2+ is
in dil.HCl. Boil off H2S. ZnS + 2HCl → ZnCl2 + H2S confirmed
Then added a few drops of 2ZnCl2 + k4[Fe(CN)6] → Zn2[Fe(CN)6]↓ +
potassium ferrocyanide 4KCl white ppt
solution.

6 Test for group V:

(reagent NH4Cl,NH4OH +
(NH4)2CO3)
To the salt solution added White ppt. Presence of 5th group
NH4Cl. Heat it. After BaCl2 BaCO3 (Ba2+/Sr2+/Ca2+)
cooling added NH4OH till SrCl2 + (NH4)2CO3 → SrCO3 + 2NH4Cl
the solution smells CaCl2 CaCO3
ammonia. Then added
(NH4)2CO3 solution.
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Dissolve the white ppt. in

hot dil.acetic acid and
divide into 3 parts.
Confirmatory test(Ba2+):
1. To one part, added a few Yellow ppt.
drops of potassium (CH3COO)2Ba + K2CrO4 → 2CH3COOK + Presence of Ba2+ is
chromate solution. BaCrO4 ↓ confirmed
Yellow ppt

2.Flame test:
A little of the salt is made
Pale green flame
into a paste with con. HCl
Presence of Ba2+ is
taken in a watch glass. A
confirmed
little of the paste is shown
in the non-luminous flame
by a glass rod.

Confirmatory test(Sr2+):
1. To the 2nd part, added
White ppt
ammonium sulphate Presence of Sr2+ is
solution. (CH3COO)2Sr + (NH4)2SO4 → confirmed
2CH3COONH4 + SrSO4 ↓
White ppt
2.Flame test:
A little of the salt is made Crimson red flame
into a paste with con. HCl
taken in a watch glass. A Presence of Sr2+ is
little of the paste is shown confirmed
in the non-luminous flame
by a glass rod.

Confirmatory test(Ca2+):
1. To the 3rd part, added White ppt.
ammonium oxalate
(CH3COO)2Ca + (NH4)2C2O4 → Presence of Ca2+ is
solution.
2CH3COONH4 + CaC2O4 ↓ confirmed

White ppt
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2.Flame test:
A little of the salt is made Brick red flame
into a paste with con. HCl
taken in a watch glass. A
Presence of Ca2+ is
little of the paste is shown
confirmed
in the non-luminous flame
by a glass rod.

7 Test for group VI:

(reagent NH4Cl,NH4OH +
Na2HPO4)
To the salt solution added A white crystalline ppt.
Presence of Mg2+
NH4Cl and NH4OH in
excess. Then added MgSO4 + Na2HPO4 + NH4OH →
disodium hydrogen MgNH4PO4 + Na2SO4 + H2O
phosphate solution
Confirmatory test:
1.Ash test
A little of the salt is Pink ash
dissolved in con.HNO3 and Chemistry: Pink ash is formed due to the
Presence of Mg2+ is
added and boiled with a formation of double oxide of Mg and Co confirmed
few drops of cobalt nitrate (MgO.CoO)
solution. A filter paper
dipped in it is burnt to
ashes. A blue ppt.
2. A little of the solution is MgSO4 + 2NaOH → Mg(OH)2 + Na2SO4 Presence of Mg2+ is
treated with NaOH Mg (OH) 2 formed absorbs the magneson confirmed
solution and added reagent and the resulting mass appeared to be
magneson reagent. blue in colour.

RESULT: The given salt contains:

Anion:
Cation:
The salt is____________
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