SCHEME OF INORGANIC SALT ANALYSIS

EXPERIMENT OBSERVATION INFERENCE

PRELIMINARY EXAMINATIONS :

1)Noted the colour- Colorless/White Absence of

Cu2+,Fe2+,Fe3+,Mn2+,Co2+,Ni2+

2)Noted the solubility-

a) In water a) Soluble +
a) May be Presence of NH4
b) Insoluble
b) May be Presence of Pb2+

3)Flame Test : a) Brick red a) Presence of Ca2+

A little of the salt is made into paste with b) Crimson red b) Presence ofSr2+
conc.HCl. A Platinum wire loop is dipped in it c) Grassy green on c) Presence of Ba2+
and introduced into the flame. prolonged heating

IDENTIFICATION ANALYSIS OF ANIONS :

1) Dil.HCl test : Evolution of Colourless, Pre.of carbonates identified
To the salt add dil.HCl, warm if required. odourless gas with brisk
Na2CO3 + H2SO4 Na2SO4 + H2O +CO2 effervescence, turns
Ca(OH)2 + CO2 CaCO3 + H2O limewater milky.

2) Dil.H2SO4 test: A little of the salt is rubbed

with dil. H2SO4
Vinegar smell Presence of acetate identified
2 CH3COONa + H2SO4 Na2SO4 + 2
CH3COOH

3) Conc.H2SO4 test :
Treat a small quantity of the salt with
a) Colourless gas with a) Pre. ofCl-1
Conc.H2SO4, warm if necessary.
pungent smell,give dense
a) NaCl + H2SO4 NaHSO4+ HCl
white fumes when a glass
HCl + NH3 NH4Cl
rod dipped inNH4OH is
shown.

b) NaNO3 + H2SO4 NaHSO4 + HNO3 b) Light brown gas with pungent b) Pre. Of NO3
4HNO3 4NO2 + O2 + 2H2O smellonstrong heating.
 -1
4) Test for sulphates :
Heat a little of the salt solution with dil.HCl and Whiteppt insoluble in dil..HCl Pre. ofsulphate
add BaCl2 solution.
Na2SO4 + BaCl2 BaSO4 + 2NaCl

CONFIRMATORY TEST FOR ANIONS :

1) Carbonates :
a) Magnesium sulphate test : White ppt Pre. of carbonates
To the salt solution add MgSO4 solution. confirmed

Na2CO3 + MgSO4 Na2SO4 + MgCO3

b) BaCl2 test: To alittle of the salt solution add

BaCl2 solution White precipitate soluble in dil.HCl
Na2CO3 + BaCl2 BaCO3 + 2NaCl
2)Chlorides :
A)MnO2test :Heata smallquantityof salt with a) Greenish yellow gas with pungent Pre. of chloride confirmed
Conc.H2SO4andMnO2 smell
MnO2 + 2NaCl + 2H2SO4 Na2SO4 +
MnSO4 + 2H2O + Cl2
b) White curdy ppt soluble in excess of Pre. of chloride confirmed
B)Silver nitrate test:Acidifythe salt solution NH4OH
with dil.nitric acid andadd silver
nitrate solution.
NaCl + AgNO3 NaNO3 + Ag Cl
AgCl + 2NH4OH [Ag(NH3 )2 ]Cl + 2H2O
3)Acetates :
A)Ester test :To the salt add conc.H2SO4 and heat.
Add alcohol.Shake. Pour the contents intoa
beakercontaining water. a) Pleasant fruity smell Pre. of acetateconfirmed
2 CH3COONa + H2SO4 Na2SO4 + 2
CH3COOH
CH3COOH + C2H5OH H+
CH3COOC2H5 + H2O
B)Ferric chloride test :To the salt solution add b) Reddish coloured ppt
neutral ferric chloride solution.Filter. Divide I. Reddish colour disappears
the filtrate into two portions : II. Reddish ppt
I. To one add dil.HCl. 6 CH3COO– + 3Fe3+ + 2H2O Pre. of acetateconfirmed
II. To the second, add [Fe3 (OH)2 (CH3COO)6 ]+ + 2H+
water andboil [Fe3 (OH)2 (CH3COO)6 ]+ + 4H2O
3[Fe (OH)2 (CH3COO)] + 3CH3COOH + H+
4)Sulphate :
A)To the salt solution add acetic acid and lead White ppt solublein hot ammonium Pre. of sulphate confirmed
acetate solution. acetate
Na2SO4 + (CH3COO)2Pb PbSO4 +
2CH3COONa
5)Nitrate :
a) Copper chip test: To a little salt add a) Brown vapours Pre.of nitrate confirmed
conc.H2SO4 andadd cu turnings andheat. and green
2NaNO3 + 4H2SO4 + 3Cu 3CuSO4 solution
+ Na2SO4 + 4H2O + 2NO
2NO + O2 2NO2
b) Brown ring test: Take 1 mL of an aqueous
solution of the salt and add 2 mL conc. H2SO4 b)Brown ring at the
slowly. Mix the solutions thoroughly and cool junction between two layer.
Pre.of nitrate confirmed
the test tube under the tap, add freshly NO3-+ 3Fe2+ + 4 H+ NO+
prepared ferrous sulphate solution along the 3 Fe +2H2O
3+

sides of the test tube dropwise so that it forms [Fe(H2O)3]2+ + NO

a layer on the top of the liquid already present [Fe(H2O)5NO]2+ + H2O
in the test tube
ANALYSIS OF CATIONS:
1)To the salt solutionadd sodium hydroxide smell of ammonia Pre. of zero group
solution and boil (Ammonium)
(NH4 )2 SO4 + 2NaOH Na2SO4 +2NH3 +2H2O

2)To the Ssolution add dil. HCl White ppt Pre.of group1
Pb2++ 2 HCl PbCl2+ 2H+ (Pb2+)
3)To the solutionadd dil. HCl and Black ppt Pre. of group 2
pass H2S (Cu2+)
Cu2+ + H2S CuS+2 H+
4)To the solution add solid ammonium White gelatinous ppt Pre.of group3
chloride andexcess of ammoniumhydroxide (Al3+)
AlCl3 + 3NH4OH Al(OH)3 + 3NaCl
5)To the solution add solid ammonium Dirty White ppt Pre.of group4
chloride andexcess of ammonium hydroxide. Pass ZnS + 2HCl ZnCl2 + H2S (Zn2+)
H2S
6)To the solution add solid ammonium White ppt Pre.of group5
chloride and excess of ammonium hydroxide. (Ba2+,Sr2+,Ca2+)
Add ammonium carbonatesolution
7)To the solution add solid ammonium White ppt Pre.of group6
chloride andexcess of ammoniumhydroxide. (Mg2+)
Add sodiumhydrogenphosphate
Mg2+ + Na2HPO4 Mg (NH4 )PO4 +
NH4OH + 2Na+ + H2O
 Ammonium (NH4+)
1)To the saltsolution addNaOH solution. Smell of ammonia. Gives Pre. of ammonium confirmed
Warm white dense fumes when a
(NH4 )2 SO4 + 2NaOH Na2SO4 +2NH3 +2H2O glass rod dipped in HCl is
NH3 + HCl NH4Cl introduced.
2)To the salt solution add NaOH solution. Brown ppt Pre. of ammonium confirmed
Warm. Add Nessler’s reagent 2K2HgI4 + NH3 + 3KOH
HgO.Hg(NH2 )I + 7KI + 2H2O
LEAD (Pb2+)
1)Potassium iodide test : Yellow precipitate (PbI2) is soluble in boiling Pre.of lead confirmed
Tothe saltsolutionaddKI solution water and reappears on cooling as shining
PbCl2 + 2KI PbI2 + 2KCl crystals.

2)Potassium chromate test : Yellow ppt insoluble in hot NaOH Pre.of lead confirmed
Tothe salt solution add k2CrO4 solution solution
PbCl2 + K2CrO4 PbCrO4 + 2KCl

Aluminium( Al3+)
1)The white ppt obtained is dissolved in dil.HCl Blue ppt floating in Pre. of aluminium confirmed
Add 2 drops of blue litmus solution. Then add colourless solution
ammonium hydroxide drop wisetill blue color
develops.
3)Ash test is conducted with the group ppt Blue ash Pre. of aluminium confirmed
2Co(NO )2 2CoO+4NO +O2 CoO +Al2O3 CoO. Al2O3

Zinc (Zn2+)
1)The white ppt obtained in gp.4 is dissolvedin
dil.HCl And divided into two Pre. of

a)To one part add NaOH in drops a) Whiteppt soluble inexcessofNaOH Zn2+confirmed
ZnCl2 + 2NaOH Zn(OH)2 + 2NaCl
Zn(OH)2 + 2NaOH Na2ZnO2 + 2H2O

b)To the second part add pot.ferrocyanide b) White/bluish white ppt Pre. of Zn2+
solution
confirmed
2 ZnCl2 + K4 [Fe(CN)6 ] Zn2 [Fe(CN)6 ] +
4 KCl
2)Ash test is conducted with the group ppt Green ash Pre. of Zn2+ confirmed
2Co(NO )2 2CoO+4NO +O2 CoO +ZnO CoO. ZnO
 Group V (Ba2+,Sr2+,Ca2+)
Test forBa2+ :
Potassium chromate test : 1) Yellow ppt Pre. of Ba
1)Group V precipitate is acidified with acetic BaCO3 + 2CH3COOH (CH3COO)2 Ba + confirmed
acid and add potassium chromate solution H2O + CO2

(CH3COO)2Ba + K2CrO4 BaCrO4 + Pre. of Ba

2) Flame test is conducted with the group ppt. 2CH3COOK
confirmed
2) Grassy green flame
Test for Sr2+ : Pre. of Sr
1)Add ammoniumsulphatetothe solution of 1) White ppt confirmed
group precipitate
SrCO3 + 2CH3COOH
(CH3COO)2 Sr + H2O + CO2 (CH3COO)2
Sr + (NH4 )2SO4 SrSO4 +
2CH3COONH4. 2) Crimsonred flame Pre. of Sr
2)Flame test is conducted with the group ppt. confirmed
Test for Ca2+ : Pre. of Ca
1) To solution of group V precipitate add 1) White ppt confirmed
ammonium oxalate solution.
CaCO3 + 2CH3COOH (CH3COO)2
Ca + H2O + CO2
(CH3COO)2Ca + (NH4 )2C2O4
(COO)2Ca + 2CH3COONH4 Pre. of Ca
2)Flame test is conducted with the group 2) Brick red flame confirmed
ppt.
Magnesium (Mg2+)

1)To the salt solution excess sodium

hydroxide and add a little of 1) Blue precipitate Pre. of magnesium
magneson reagent
confirmed
2)Ash test is conducted with group ppt
2Co(NO )2 2CoO+4NO +O2 2) Pale pinkash Pre. of magnesium
CoO +MgO CoO. MgO
confirmed