GENEREAL PROCEDURE OF SALT ANALYSIS

S. Experiment Observation Inference

No.
1 Colour : Blue or bluish green May be Cu2+
Note the colour of the Light green May be Fe2+
salt Dark brown May be Fe3+
Green May be Ni2+
Pink May be Co2+
Light pink May be Mn2+
White Absence of Cu2+, Fe2+ , Fe3+,
Ni2+, Co2+, Mn2+
2 Smell : Ammonical smell May be NH4+
Take a pinch of the salt Vinegar like smell May be CH3COO—
between your fingers and
rub with a drop of water No characteristic smell Absence of NH4+,
CH3COO—
3 Dry heating test : Colourless and odourless gas May be CO32—
Heat a small amount turns lime water milky
of salt in a dry test tube. Smells like burning sulphur May be SO42—

Characteristics vinegar smell May be CH3COO–—

Reddish brown gas May be Br — or NO3—
Greenish yellow vapours May be Cl —
Yellow when hot and white May Zn2+
when cold
No Characteristic change Absence of CO32— , SO42— ,
CH3COO–—, Br —, NO3—, Cl
—
, Zn2+
4 Flame test : Brick red May be Ca2+
Take a small amount Crimson red May be Sr2+
of salt in a watch glass. Grassy green May be Ba2+
Add a drop of Conc. HCl to
it and form a paste. Take Bright bluish green May be Cu2+
the paste at the charred end Green flashes May be Zn2+ or Mn2+
of the splinter and Dull bluish white May be Pb2+
introduce it near the No characteristic colour Absence of Ca2+, Sr2+, Ba2+,
Bunsen flame Cu2+, Zn2+ or Mn2+, Pb2+
5 Dil. H2SO4 : Colourless odourless gas (CO2) May be CO32—
Take a small quantity with brisk effervescence,
of the salt in a test tube and which turns llime water milky.
add 1-2 drops of dil. H2SO4
 Reddish brown gas (NO2) with May be NO3—
the pungent smell. The gas
turns ferrous sulphate solution
black.
No characteristics gas evolved Absence of CO32— , NO3—

6 Con. H2SO4 : Colourless gas (HCl) with May be Cl—

Take a small quantity pungent smell. The gas gives
of the salt in a test tube and white fumes with aqueous
add 2-3 drops of Con. ammonia (NH4OH) and white
H2SO4 ppt. with AgNO3 solution.
Reddish brown gas (NO2) with May be NO3—
pungent smell, turns FeSO4
solution black.
Reddish brown gas (Br2) with May be Br —
pungent smell, turns Starch
paper yellow, it does not turns
FeSO4 solution black.
Colourless odourless gas (CO2) May be CO32—
with brisk effervescence,
which turns lime water milky.
Colourless vapours May be CH3COO–—
(CH3COOH) with smell of
vinegar. Vapours turn blue
litmus red.
No gas / vapours evolved Absence of Cl—, NO2—,
CO32—, CH3COO–—
Test for Independent radicals : (SO42— and PO43—)
7 Boil a small amount of salt White precipitate is formed, Presence of SO42—
with dil. HCl in a test tube. insoluble in Conc. HCl
Filter the contents, and to the No white precipitate Absence of SO42—
filtrate add few drops of
BaCl2 solution.
8 Add conc. HNO3 to the salt in Yellow precipitate is formed Presence of PO43—
a test tube. Boil the contents
and add excess of ammonium
molybdate solution No yellow precipitate Absence of PO43—

Confirmatory test for anions :

1 Confirmation test for CO32—
a Dil. HCl test : Brisk effervescence and CO32— is confirmed
To a pinch of salt 2 – 3 evolution of colorless,
drops of add dil. HCl odourless gas, which turns
lime water milky.
CO32– + 2 HCl  2 Cl– + CO2 + H2O
CO2 + Ca(OH)2  CaCO3 + H2O
b MgSO4 test : White precipitate is formed CO32— is confirmed
To aqueous solution of in cold
salt add 2 – 3 drops of
MgSO4
CO32– + MgSO4  MgCO3 + SO42–
White ppt.
2 Confirmatory test for SO42—
a BaCl2 test : White precipitate is formed, SO42— is confirmed
To a part of the aqueous insoluble in Conc. HCl.
solution of salt add few drops
of BaCl2 solution.
SO42– + BaCl2  BaSO4 + 2 NaCl
White ppt.
b Lead acetate test : A white precipitate is formed SO42— is confirmed
To another part of the which is soluble in excess of
aqueous solution of salt add 2 hot ammonium acetate
ml of lead acetate solution. solution
SO42– + (CH3COO)2Pb  PbSO4 + 2 CH3COO–
White ppt.
3 Confirmatory test for NO3—
a Cu chips test : Dark brown fumes of NO2 NO3— is confirmed
Heat a small quantity of are evolved
the original salt with few
drops of con. H2SO4 and a
few copper chips
2 NO3– + H2SO4  SO42– + 2 HNO3
4 HNO3 + Cu  Cu(NO3)2 + 2 NO2 + 2 H2O
Reddish brown vapours
b Brown ring test : A dark brown ring is formed NO3— is confirmed
Add a small quantity of at the junction of the layers
freshly prepared FeSO4 to a of the acid and the solution
part of the aqueous solution
and then pour con. H2SO4
slowly along the sides of the
test tube
NO3– + H2SO4  HSO4– + HNO3
6 FeSO4 + 3 H2SO4 + 2 HNO3  3 Fe2(SO4)3 + 4 H2O + 2 NO
FeSO4 + NO + 5 H2O  [Fe(NO)(H2O)5]SO4
(Brown ring)
4 Confirmatory test for Cl—
a AgNO3 test : A curdy white precipitate is Cl— is confirmed
Acidify the portion of formed which is soluble in
aqueous solution with dil. NH4OH
HNO3 boil for some time,
cool and add AgNO3 solution
 Cl– + AgNO3  AgCl + NO3–
White ppt.
AgCl + 2 NH4OH  [Ag(NH3)2] Cl + 2 H2O
Soluble complex
b Chromyl chloride test : Yellow precipitate is formed Cl— is confirmed
Mix a small quantity of
salt with a small amount of
powdered K2Cr2O7. Take the
mixture in the test tube and
add con. H2SO4. Heat the test
tube and pass the red vapours
evolved into the gas detector
containing NaOH solution.
To the yellow solution thus
obtained, add dil. Acetic acid
and lead acetate solution.

4 Cl– + K2Cr2O7 + 6 H2SO4  4 HSO4– + 2 KHSO4 + 2 CrO2Cl2 + 3 H2O

Chromyl chloride
CrO2Cl2 + 4 NaOH  Na2CrO4 + 2 H2O + 2 NaCl
Na2CrO4 + (CH3COO)2 Pb  PbCrO4 + 2 CH3COONa
Yellow ppt.
5 Confirmatory test for Br—
a AgNO3 test : A pale yellow precipitate is Br— is confirmed
Acidify the portion of formed which is partially
aqueous solution with dil. soluble in NH4OH
HNO3 boil for some time,
cool and add AgNO3 solution
Br– + AgNO3  AgBr + NO3–
Pale Yellow Ppt.
AgBr + 2 NH4OH  [Ag(NH3)2] Br + 2 H2O
Partially Soluble complex
b MnO2 test : Evolution of Yellowish Br— is confirmed
Heat a small quantity of brown vapours of bromine
the salt with solid MnO2 and which turns starch paper
Con. H2SO4 yellow
2 Br– + MnO2 + 3 H2SO4  2 HSO4– + MnSO4 + 2 H2O + Br2
Yellowish brown vapours
6 Confirmatory test for CH3COO—
a FeCl3 test : Reddish coloured filtrate CH3COO— is confirmed
Take original salt solution
add neutral FeCl3 solution.
Filter and divide the filtrate
into two portions.
(i) To one part, add dil. HCl Reddish colour disappears
(ii) To another part add water Reddish brown precipitate
and boil.
 3 CH3COO– + FeCl3  (CH3COO)3Fe + 3 Cl–
(CH3COO)3Fe + 2 H2O  (CH3COO)(OH)2Fe + 2 CH3COOH
Reddish brown ppt.

b Ester test : Pleasant fruity smell of ester

Take a small quantity of
the salt in a test tube. Add
con. H2SO4 and heat. Now CH3COO— is confirmed
add ethyl alcohol. Shake and
pour the contents of the tube
in a beaker full of water. Stir
2 CH3COO– + H2SO4  SO42– + 2 CH3COOH
CH3COOH + C2H5OH  CH3COOC2H5 + H2O
Ethyl acetate
(Fruity smell)
7 Confirmatory test for C2O42—
a CaCl2 test : A white precipitate is formed C2O42— is confirmed
Take original salt solution,
acidify with dil. Acetic acid
and boil off CO2. Add CaCl2
solution.
C2O42– + CaCl2  CaC2O4 + 2 Cl–
White ppt.
b KMnO4 test : The pink colour of KMnO4 C2O42— is confirmed
Take a pinch of salt in test solution is decolourised with
tube and add dil. H2SO4. the evolution of CO2 gas
o
Warm to 60 – 70 C and add
1-2 drops of dil. KMnO4

2 KMnO4 + 3 H2SO4 + 5 C2O42–  K2SO4 + 2 MnSO4 + 8 H2O + 10 CO2

8 Confirmatory test for PO43—
a Ammonium Molybdate test: Deep Yellow precipitate or PO43— is confirmed
To a part of the coloration is formed
aqueous solution of salt add
conc. HNO3 and boil ,then
add excess of ammonium
molybdate solution.
PO43– + 3 HNO3  H3PO4 + 3 NO3–
H3PO4 + 12 (NH4)2MoO4 + 21 HNO3  (NH4)3PO4 .12 MoO3 + 21 NH4NO3 + 2 H2O
Ammonium phosphate molybdate
Yellow ppt.
b Magnesia mixture test : A white precipitate is formed PO43— is confirmed
Take a portion of
aqueous salt solution, add
magnesia mixture and allow
to stand (to prepare magnesia
mixture add solid NH4Cl to
 MgCl2 solution. Boil, cool
and add NH4OH till a strong
smell of ammonia is
obtained)
PO43– + MgCl2 + NH4OH  Mg(NH4)PO4 + 2 Cl– + OH–
Magnesium ammonium phosphate
White ppt.
Group Analysis
1 Heat the pinch of salt with A colorless gas with Group Zero is present
conc. NaOH solution characteristic ammonical (NH4+)
smell is evolved
No ammonia gas evolved
Group Zero is absent (NH4+)
Preparation of original solution :
The original solution is prepared by dissolving a gram of the salt in 10 to 15 ml of
distilled water. Shake well the contents. If the salt does not dissolve, heat the contents till the
salt completely soluble.
(or)
The original solution is prepared by dissolving a gram of the salt in 10 to 15 ml of
dil.HCl. Shake well the contents. If the salt does not dissolve, heat the contents till the salt
completely soluble.
1 To a part of original solution White precipitate is obtained Presence of I group (Pb2+)
add 1-2 ml of dil. HCl
No white precipitate is Absence of I group (Pb2+)
obtained

2 To the above solution pass Black precipitate is obtained Presence of II group (Pb2+,
H2S gas Cu2+, As3+)

No characteristics precipitate Absence of II group (Pb2+,

Cu2+, As3+)

3 To the original solution, add a Reddish brown precipitate is Presence of III group (Fe3+)
pinch of NH4Cl. Boiled the obtained
solution, cooled it and added
excess of NH4OH. White precipitate is obtained Presence of III group (Al3+)

No precipitate is obtained Absence of III group (Fe3+,

Al3+)
4 To the above solution, pass Black precipitate is obtained Presence of IV group (Co2+,
H2S gas Ni2+)
Flesh coloured precipitate is Presence of IV group
obtained (Mn2+)
Dull white precipitate is Presence of IV group (Zn2+)
obtained
No white precipitate is Absence of IV group (Co2+,
obtained Ni2+, Mn2+, Zn2+)
5 To the original solution, add a White precipitate is obtained Presence of V group (Ba2+,
pinch of NH4Cl. Boiled the Sr2+, Ca2+)
solution, cooled it and added
excess of NH4OH and No white precipitate is Absence of V group (Ba2+,
(NH4)2CO3 solution. obtained Sr2+, Ca2+)
(or)
May be presence of VI
group (Mg2+)
Confirmatory test for cations
1 Confirmatory test for NH4+
a Action of NaOH : Dense white fumes are observed NH4+ is confirmed
To a few drops of when a glass rod dipped in conc.
original solution add NaOH HCl is brought to mouth of the
test tube
and warmed
NH4+ + NaOH  Na+ + H2O + NH3
NH3 + HCl  NH4Cl
White fumes
b To a few drops of original Reddish brown precipitate is NH4+ is confirmed
solution, 1ml of Nesseler’s obtained
reagent and excess of sodium
hydroxide solutions are added
2 K2[HgI4] + NH3 + 3 KOH  H2N.HgO.HgI + 7 KI + 2 H2O
Nessler’s reagent Brown ppt.
2 Confirmatory test for Pb2+
a To a few drops of original Yellow precipitate is Pb2+ is confirmed
solution add KI solution obtained

Pb2+ + 2 KI  PbI2 + 2 K+
Yellow ppt.
b To a few drops of original Yellow precipitate is Pb2+ is confirmed
solution add K2CrO4 solution obtained

Pb2+ + K2CrO4  PbCrO4 + 2 K+

Yellow ppt.
3 Confirmatory test for Cu2+
a To a few drops of original Chocolate brown precipitate Cu2+ is confirmed
solution, add acetic acid and is formed
potassium ferrocyanide
solution
Cu2+ + K4[Fe(CN)6]  Cu2[Fe(CN)6] + 4 K+
Chocolate Brown ppt.
b To a few drops of original White precipitate is formed Cu2+ is confirmed
solution, add acetic acid and
Potassium Iodide solution
 2 Cu2+ + 4 KI  Cu2I2 + I2 + 4 K+
white ppt.
4 Confirmatory test for Al3+
a To a few drops of original Blue precipitate floating in Al3+ is confirmed
solution add drops of blue the colourless solution
litmus solution and NH4OH
dropwise till blue colour
develops
Al(OH)3 + 3 HCl  AlCl3 + 3 H2O
AlCl3 + 3 NH4OH  3 NH4Cl + Al(OH)3
Blue colour absorbs on this ppt.
b To few drops of original A bright red lake is obtained Al3+ is confirmed
solution, 2ml of ammonium
hydroxide and a few drops of
―aluminon‖ reagent are
added.

5 Confirmatory test for Fe3+

a To a few drops of original Prussian blue colouration is Fe3+ is confirmed
solution add potassium obtained
ferrocyanide solution
4 Fe3+ + 3 K4[Fe(CN)6]  12 K+ + Fe4[Fe(CN)6]3
Ferric ferro cyanide
(Prussian blue)
b To a few drops of original Blood red colouration is Fe3+ is confirmed
solution add potassium obtained
sulphocyanide solution
Fe3+ + 3 KCNS  3 K+ + Fe(CNS)3
Ferric sulphocyanide
(blood red colouration)
6 Confirmatory test for Ni2+
a Dimethyl glyoxime test : Bright rose red precipitate is Ni2+ is confirmed
To a few drops of obtained
original solution add NH4OH
and few drops of dimethyl
glyoxime

b NaOH / Br2 test : A green precipitate is Ni2+ is confirmed

To a few drops of obtained
original solution add NaOH
in excess and bromine water.
Boil.
Ni2+ + 2 NaOH  2 NaCl + Ni(OH)2
Green precipitate
Br2 + H2O  2 HBr + [O]
2 Ni(OH)2 + H2O + [O]  2 Ni(OH)3
Black precipitate
7 Confirmatory test for Mn2+
a To a few drops of original White precipitate turned to Mn2+ is confirmed
solution add NaOH solution. black or brown precipitate
Shake well. A white
precipitate is formed, then
add Br2 water
Mn2+ + 2 NaOH  Mn(OH)2 + 2 Na+
Br2 + H2O  2 HBr + [O]
Mn(OH)2 + [O]  MnO(OH)2
Brown ppt.

b Lead peroxide test : Pink coloured solution is Mn2+ is confirmed

To a black precipitate formed
obtained in above test add
conc. HNO3 and lead
peroxide. Boil, cool and allow
to settle
Mn2+ + 2 HNO3  Mn(NO3)2 + 2 H+
2 Mn(NO3)2 + 5 PbO2 + 6 HNO3  2 HMnO4 + 5 Pb(NO3)2 + 2 H2O
Pink solution
8 Confirmatory test for Zn2+
a To a few drops of original White precipitate is formed, Zn2+ is confirmed
solution add NaOH dropwise if excess white precipitate is
dissolved
Zn2+ + 2 NaOH  Zn(OH)2 + 2 Na+
White ppt.
Zn(OH)2 + 2 NaOH  Na2ZnO2 + 2 H2O
Soluble
b To a few drops of original White or Bluish white Zn2+ is confirmed
solution add potassium precipitate is formed
ferrocyanide
2 Zn2+ + K4[Fe(CN)6]  Zn2[Fe(CN)6] + 4 K+
White or bluish white ppt.
9 Confirmatory test for Ba2+
a To a few drops of original Yellow precipitate is Ba2+ is confirmed
solution add K2CrO4 solution obtained
Ba2+ + K2CrO4  2 K+ + BaCrO4
Yellow precipitate
b Flame test : Grassy green flame is Ba2+ is confirmed
Take a small amount of obtained
salt in a watch glass. Add a
drop of Conc. HCl to it and
form a paste. Take the paste
at the charred end of the
splinter and introduce it near
the Bunsen flame
10 Confirmatory test for Sr2+
a To a few drops of original White precipitate is formed Sr2+ is confirmed
solution add (NH4)2SO4
solution and warm
Sr2+ + (NH4)2SO4  SrSO4 + 2 NH4+
White precipitate
b Flame test : Crimson red flame is Sr2+ is confirmed
Take a small amount of obtained
salt in a watch glass. Add a
drop of Conc. HCl to it and
form a paste. Take the paste
at the charred end of the
splinter and introduce it near
the Bunsen flame
11 Confirmatory test for Ca2+
a To a few drops of original White precipitate is obtained Ca2+ is confirmed
solution add 1-2 ml of
ammonium oxalate solution.
Add a little NH4OH to it and
scratch the sides
Ca2+ + (NH4)C2O4  2 NH4+ + CaC2O4
White precipitate
b Flame test : Brick red flame is obtained Ca2+ is confirmed
Take a small amount of
salt in a watch glass. Add a
drop of Conc. HCl to it and
form a paste. Take the paste
at the charred end of the
splinter and introduce it near
the Bunsen flame
12 Confirmatory test for Mg2+
a To a part of original solution A white precipitate is Mg2+ is confirmed
add some solid NH4Cl and obtained
NH4OH in slight excess.
Then add ammonium
phosphate and scratch the
sides of the sides of the test
tube with glass rod
Mg2+ + NH4OH + (NH4)2HPO4  Mg(NH4)PO4 + 2 NH4+ + H2O
White precipitate
b To a small part of original A blue precipitate is Mg2+ is confirmed
solution add Magneson obtained
reagent and NaOH

RESULT :

The given acid radical is ___________( )

The given basic radical is ____________( )

So, the given simple salt is ____________( )