I CALCIUM ION (Ca²⁺)
1. Flame Test for Calcium (Ca²⁺)
Procedure:
Dip a clean platinum or nichrome wire in concentrated HCl, then in the given salt, and introduce it
into a non-luminous flame.
Observation:
The flame turns brick-red (orange-red).
Inference:
Presence of calcium ion (Ca²⁺) is confirmed.
2. Sodium Carbonate Test for Calcium
Procedure:
Add sodium carbonate (Na₂CO₃) solution to the salt solution.
Observation:
A white precipitate of calcium carbonate (CaCO₃) is formed.
The precipitate is insoluble in water but dissolves in dilute acid with effervescence.
Inference:
Calcium ion is present.
II CHLORIDE ION (Cl⁻) / CHLORINE
1. Silver Nitrate Test (Confirmatory Test)
Procedure:
Take the given salt solution and add dilute nitric acid (HNO₃) to it. Then add silver nitrate
(AgNO₃) solution.
Observation:
A white curdy precipitate is formed, which dissolves in ammonium hydroxide (NH₄OH).
Inference:
Presence of chloride ion (Cl⁻) is confirmed.
Chemical Equation:
AgN O3 + NaCl → AgCl ↓+ NaN O3
2. Additional Confirmatory Test (Chromyl Chloride Test – for solid chlorides)
Procedure:
Mix the dry salt with potassium dichromate (K₂Cr₂O₇) and heat with concentrated sulphuric acid
(H₂SO₄).
Observation:
Red vapours of chromyl chloride (CrO₂Cl₂) are evolved.
On passing the vapours into sodium hydroxide solution and then adding lead acetate, a yellow
precipitate is formed.
Inference:
Chloride ion is present.
III MAGNESIUM ION (Mg²⁺)
1. Test for Magnesium Ion (Mg²⁺)
Procedure:
Add ammonium solution to the magnesium salt solution.
Observation:
A white precipitate of magnesium hydroxide [Mg(OH)₂] is formed, which dissolves on adding
excess ammonium chloride.
IV BARIUM ION (Ba²⁺)
Confirmatory Test for Barium Ion (Ba²⁺)
1. Sulphate Test (Confirmatory Test)
Procedure:
To the given salt solution, add dilute hydrochloric acid (HCl) followed by dilute sulphuric acid
(H₂SO₄).
Observation:
A white precipitate of barium sulphate (BaSO₄) is formed, which is insoluble in dilute acids.
Inference:
Presence of barium ion (Ba²⁺) is confirmed.
Chemical Equation:
BaC l 2+ H 2 S O4 → BaS O4 ↓+2 HCl
2. Flame Test (Supporting Test)
Procedure:
Introduce the salt on a clean platinum/nichrome wire into a non-luminous flame.
Observation:
The flame shows an apple-green colour.
Inference:
Barium ion is present.
3. Potassium Dichromate Test (for Barium Ion, Ba²⁺)
Procedure:
To the given salt solution, add a few drops of potassium dichromate (K₂Cr₂O₇) solution.
Observation:
A yellow precipitate of barium chromate (BaCrO₄) is formed.
Inference:
Presence of barium ion (Ba²⁺) is confirmed.
Explanation (important for exams):
In aqueous medium, potassium dichromate is in equilibrium with chromate ions:
+¿ ¿
2−¿+ 2 H ¿
O ⇌ 2 Cr O ¿
C r 2 O2−¿+H
2
7
4
Barium ions react with chromate ions to form insoluble BaCrO₄ (yellow ppt.)
V SULPHATE ION (SO₄²⁻)
Confirmatory Test for Sulphate Ion (SO₄²⁻)
1. Barium Chloride Test (Confirmatory Test)
Procedure:
Take the given salt solution and add dilute hydrochloric acid (HCl) to it. Then add barium chloride
(BaCl₂) solution.
Observation:
A white precipitate of barium sulphate (BaSO₄) is formed, which is insoluble in dilute acids.
Inference:
Presence of sulphate ion (SO₄²⁻) is confirmed.
Chemical Equation:
BaC l 2+ N a 2 S O4 → BaS O4 ↓+2 NaCl
VI Confirmatory Test for Nitrate Ion (NO₃⁻)
1. Brown Ring Test (Confirmatory Test)
Procedure:
Take the given salt solution in a test tube. Add freshly prepared ferrous sulphate (FeSO₄) solution.
Carefully add concentrated sulphuric acid (H₂SO₄) along the sides of the test tube without shaking.
Observation:
A brown ring is formed at the junction of the two liquids.
Inference:
Presence of nitrate ion (NO₃⁻) is confirmed.
Chemical Explanation:
Nitrate ions are reduced to nitric oxide (NO), which reacts with Fe²⁺ ions to form a brown nitrosyl
complex.
