1. Dilute Acid Group: Solid Salt + Dil.

H2SO4, if gas is evolved, dilute acid group (CO3-2, HCO3-1,S-2, SO3-2,S2O3-2 or NO2-1) present
Carbonate (CO3-2,)/Bicarbonate (HCO3-1) Sulphide (S-2) Sulphite (SO3-2)/Thiosulphate(S2O3-2) Nitrite (NO2-1)
Colorless odorless gas(CO2) Evolved with effervescence, turning lime water, Ca(OH)2 Colourless gas (H2S) with rotten egg smell, turning Colourless gas (SO2) with burnt sulphur like smell, turning K2Cr2O7 Reddish brown gas (NO2) turning FeSO4
milky (CaCO3) Pb(CH3COO)2 paper black (PbS), S-2 indicated paper green (Cr2(SO4)3) SO3-2/S2O3-2 indicated paper black [Fe(HsO)5NO]SO4, NO2-1
indicated
Insoluble Carbonate (CO3-2) Bicarbonate (HCO3-1) Contents of test tube Contents of test tube yellow (Free
transparent → SO3-2 Sulphur) → S2O3-2
Dissolve the salt in water. Salt is insoluble Exp. Obs. Inf. Exp. Obs. Inf. Exp. Obs. Inf. Exp. Obs. Inf. Exp. Obs. Inf.
in water. Insoluble CO3-2 indicated and O.S + MgSO4 White O.S + AgNO3 Black ppt. O.S + Black O.S+ Black ppt. O.S+ Blue Color
confirmed (No other test for insoluble ppt. (Ag2S) AgNO3 ppt. AgNO3 (Ag2S2O3) Diphenyl
CO3-2) (MgCO3) (Ag2S) changing Amine
Soluble Carbonate (CO3-2) in hot HCO3-1 S-2 SO3-2 to yellow, (C6H5)2NH
Exp. Obs. Inf. state. confirmed confirmed. confirmed orange
O.S + MgSO4 White O.S + Sodium Violet Coloration brown and S2O3-2 NO2-1
ppt. Nitroprosside Na2[Fe(CN)5NOS] O.S + White black confirmed confirmed
(MgCO3) O.S + CaCl2 White Na2[Fe(CN)5NO] BaCl2 ppt. O.S + Color of
in cold ppt. Soluble Acidified KMnO4
state. HCO3-2 (CaCO3) in HCl O.S + Violet KMnO4 discharged
O.S + CaCl2 White confirmed in hot FeCl3 color (MnSO4)
ppt. state Fe2(S2O3)3
(CaCO3) fades
in Cold quickly.
state

2. Concentrated Acid Group: if no gas is evolved with dil. H2SO4, then it indicates absence of dilute acid group. Solid salt + concentrated H2SO4, heat: if gas is evolved. then concentrated acid group (Cl, Br, I, CH3COO-, C2O4-2, NO3-) present
Chloride (Cl-) Bromide (Br-) Iodine (I-) Acetate (CH3COO-1) Oxalate (C2O4-2) Nitrate(NO3-1)
Colourless gas (HCl) with pungent smell evolved Reddish Brown gas(Br2) contents of tube reddish Violent vapors (I2) condenses on the wall of Colorless gas (CH3COOH) with vinegar like smell Colorless gas (CO, CO2) turn lime Reddish brown gas (NO2) turning FeSO4 paper
gives white fumes with NH4OH soaked rod, Cl- brown, no blackening with Br indicated. the test tube as black residue I- indicated. CH3COO- indicated. water (Ca(OH)2) milky (CaCO3) and black NO3 indicated.
indicated. burns with blue flame C2O4-2
indicated.
Exp. Obs. Inf. Exp. Obs. Inf. Exp. Obs. Inf. Exp. Obs. Inf. Exp. Obs. Inf. Exp. Obs. Inf.
O.S + AgNO3 White ppt. O.S + AgNO3 Off white/ O.S + Deep (Palm test Vinegar like smell O.S+ White ppt. O.S. Brown Ring at
(AgCl) pale yellow AgNO3 yellow ppt. (Salt+ Oxalic (CH3COOH fumes) AgNO3 Ag2C2O4 +FeSO4+H2SO4 junction
soluble in ppt. (AgBr) (Agl) acid(s)+ Water soluble is along the walls [Fe(H2O)5NO]SO4
NH4OH partially insoluble in + rub. all HNO3 of test tube.
soluble in NH4OH.
Cl- NH4OH Br- I- CH3COO- C2O4-2 NO3-1
(Chromyl Orange fumes Confirmed. confirmed. confirmed. O.S.+FeCl3(sol) Solution turns red confirmed. confirmed Confirmed
Chloride Test) (CrO2Cl2) O.S + CS2 layer O.S+ CS2 layer (Fe(OH)2 O.S. + Color of O.S. + Deep blue color
Solid Salt + CS2+few drops of turns brown CS2+few drops turns violet CH2COO) which acidified KMnO4 Diphenylamine (Complex)
Solid K2Cr2O7 + KMnO4+dil (Solution of of KMnO4+dil. (Solution of becomes brown KMnO4. discharges
conc. H2SO4 + H2SO4+Shake Br2 in CS2) H2SO4+Shake I2 in CS2) [Fe(OH)3] on (MnSO4)
heat well heating.

Dr. Gulzar Muhammad & Prof. Nabeel-Ur-Rehman

3. Special Group: If no gas is evolved with conc. H2SO4, then it indicates absence of concentrated acid group, O.S. + BaCl2 if white ppt. formed, then any one of acid radical of special
group (SO4-2 and PO4-3) may be present.
Sulphate (SO4-2) Phosphate (PO4-3)
White ppt. in dil CH3COOH→ppt. does not dissolve SO4-2 indicated White ppt. in dilute CH3COOH→ppt.soluble PO4-3 indicated
Exp. Obs. Inf. Exp. Obs. Inf.
O.S + Pb(CH3COO)2 White ppt. (PbSO4) O.S.+ conc. HNO3 + boil + Yellow ppt.
SO4-2 confirmed. cool + Ammonium PO4-3 confirmed
O.S + AgNO3 White ppt. (Ag2SO4) molybdate, (NH4)2MoO4

O.S+AgNO3+heat Yellow ppt. (Ag3PO4)

Basic Radicals
1. 1 Group: O.S. + Dil. HCl. If white ppt. formed then one of the basic radicals of 1 group (Ag+, Hg2+2 and Pb+2) may be present. Add NH4OH
st st

Silver (Ag+1) Mercuros (Hg2+2) Plumbous (Pb+2)

White ppt. (AgCl) soluble as [Ag(NH3)2]Cl Ag+ indicated White ppt. (Hg2Cl2) turn black as [Hg2(NH3)2Cl2] Hg2+2 indicated White ppt. (PbCl2) remains insoluble Pb+2 indicated
Exp. Obs. Inf. Exp. Obs. Inf. Exp. Obs. Inf.
O.S.+ K2CrO4 Brick red ppt. O.S. + K2CrO4 Dark red ppt. O.S + K2CrO4 Bright yellow ppt.
(Ag2CrO4) Ag+ confirmed (Hg2CrO4) (PbCrO4) Pb+2 confirmed
O.S. + KI Dirty. Green ppt. Hg2+2 confirmed
O.S.+ KI Yellow ppt. (AgI) (Hg2I2) turn scarlet O.S.+ KI Yellow ppt. (PbI2)
red (HgI2) on
standing.
2. 2nd Group: If no ppt. formed with dil. HCl, then it indicates absence of 1st group. Pass H2S gas in that solution (O.S + dil. HCl mixture) if ppt. formed then any one of the basic radicals of 2nd group
(Cd+2 , Cu+2, Bi+3,Pb+2,Hg+2, As+3,Sb+3, Sn+2, or Sn+4) may be present. Make two portions of above ppt. A. To one portion, Add yellow (NH4)2S2 ppt. if insoluble then any one of the basic radicals of 2nd
A group (Cd+2, Cu+2, Bi+3, Pb+2 and Hg+2)
Cadmium (Cd+3) Cupric (Cu+2) Bismuth (Bi+3) Plumbous (Pb+2) Mercuric (Hg+2)
+2
Yellow ppt. (CdS) and white salt, Cd Black ppt. (CuS) and Blue salt Black ppt. (Bi2S3) soluble as Bi(NO3)3 Black ppt. (PbS) soluble as Pb(NO3)2 Black ppt. (HgS) insoluble in
indicated Cu+2 indicated. in HNO3 + dil NH4OH→White ppt. in HNO3+dil H2SO4→ white ppt. HNO3 Hg+2 indicated
+3
(Bi(OH)3 Bi indicated (PbSO4) Pb+2 indicated
Exp. Obs. Inf. Exp. Obs. Inf. Exp. Obs. Inf. Exp. Obs. Inf. Exp. Obs. Inf.
O.S.+ White ppt. O.S. + Blue ppt. O.S. + Bright O.S. + Yellow O.S.+ Bright
NaOH Cd(OH)2 soluble NaOH (Cu(OH)2) NaOH yellow ppt. K2Cr2O4 ppt. K2CrO4 yellow

Dr. Gulzar Muhammad & Prof. Nabeel-Ur-Rehman

 in NH4OH as turning black (PbCrO4) (PbCrO4) ppt.
[Cd(NH3)2](OH)2 Cd+2 (CuO) on Cu+2 Pb +2
Pb +2
(HgCrO4) Hg+2
O.S.+ White ppt. confirmed heating confirmed O.S.+ Bright confirmed. O.S.+ Bright confirmed O.S. + White confirmed
NH4OH (Cd(OH)2) O.S. + Chocolate NH4OH yellow ppt. Kl yellow NH4OH ppt.
soluble as Potassium red ppt. (Pbl2) ppt. Hg(OH)2
[Cd(NH3)2](OH)2 Perrocyanide Cu2[Fe(CN)6] (Pbl2)
in excess K4[Fe(CN)6]

B. If above ppt. (formed from O.S + dil. HCl + H2S) soluble in yellow (NH4)2S2 then any one of the basic of 2nd B group (As+3, Sb+3, Sn+2 or Sn+4) may be present.
Arsenic (As+3) Antimony (Sb+3) Stannous (Sn+2) Stannic (Sn+4)
Yellow ppt. As2S3 As+3 indicated Orange ppt. Sb+3 indicated Brown opt. SnS Sn+2 indicated Light yellow ppt. (SnS2) Sn+4 indicated
Exp. Obs. Inf. Exp. Obs. Inf. Exp. Obs. Inf. Exp. Obs. Inf.
O.S. + NaOH White ppt. O.S + NaOH White ppt. O.S. + NaOH White ppt. O.S. + NaOH White ppt.
As(OH)3 Sb(OH)3 Sn(OH)4 Sn(OH)4
soluble in As+3 Sb+3 soluble in soluble in
+2
excess confirmed O.S. + HCl + White ppt. confirmed excess Sn excess Sn+4
O.S. + AgNO3 Yellow ppt. H2O (excess) SbOCl O.S. + HgCl2 White ppt. confirmed confirmed
As(NO3)3 soluble in (SnCl2) O.S. + HCl + Grey spongy
Tartaric acid turning grey Zn metal
(Sn) excess
3. 3rd Group: If no ppt. formed with dil. HCl and H2S then it indicates absence of 2nd group O.S.+ [Dil. NHO3 + boi l+ cool(only if salt is light green)] + NH4Cl(s) + Boil + Cool + NH4OH(excess) if ppt. formed
then any one of the basic radical of 3rd group (Fe+3, Fe+2, Cr+3 and Al+3) present.
Ferrous (Fe+2) Ferric (Fe+3) Chromium(Cr+3) Aluminum (Al+3)
+3
Reddish brown ppt. Fe(OH)2, light green salt Reddish brown ppt. Fe(OH)3, yellowish brown Dirty green ppt. green salt. Cr White gelatinous ppt. Al(OH)3, white salt
Fe+2 indicated salt indicated Al+3 indicated
+3
Fe indicated
Exp. Obs. Inf. Exp. Obs. Inf. Exp. Obs. Inf. Exp. Obs. Inf.
O.S. + NaOH Greenish O.S. + NaOH Reddish O.S. + NaOH Green ppt. O.S. + NaOH White ppt.
white ppt. brown ppt. Cr(OH)3 Al(OH)3
+3 +3 +3
[Fe(OH)2] Fe Fe(OH)3 Fe Cr confirmed soluble as
confirmed O.S. +Pot. Blue color Confirmed O.S. Green ppt. NaAlO2 in Al+3
O.S. +Pot. Blue color Ferrocyanide Fe4[Fe(CN)6]3 +Na2HPO4 CrPO4 excess confirmed
Dr. Gulzar Muhammad & Prof. Nabeel-Ur-Rehman
Ferricyanide Fe4[Fe(CN)6]3 K4[Fe(CN)6] O.S. + litmus sol. + Blue lake
[K3(Fe(CN)4] HCl(dil)+NH4OH(excess) floating in
water (Lake
Test)

4. 4th Group: if no ppt. formed (with O.S + NH4Cl + NH4OH), then it indicates absence of 3rd group O.S+NH4Cl(s)+boil+Cool+NH4OH, pass H2S, if ppt. formed then any one of the basic radical of 4th
group (Ni+2, Co+2, Mn+2 and Zn+2) may be present.
Nickel (Nl+2) Cobalt (Co+2) Manganese (Mn+2) Zink (Zn+2)
+2
Black ppt. (NiS) and light green salt Black ppt. (CoS) and pink salt Co Pink ppt. (MnS) and Flesh red salt White ppt. (ZnS) and White salt
Ni+2 indicated indicated Mn+2 indicated Zn+2 indicated
Exp. Obs. Inf. Exp. Obs. Inf. Exp. Obs. Inf. Exp. Obs. Inf.
O.S. + NaOH Light green O.S. + NaOH Violet blue O.S. + NaOH White ppt. O.S. + NaOH White ppt.
ppt. Ni(OH)2 ppt. Co(OH)2 Mn(OH)2, Zn(OH)2 soluble
Ni+2 confirmed Co+2 turn brown Mn+2 in excess of Zn+3
O.S + NH4OH Rose red ppt. O.S. + Violet ppt. confirmed (MnO2) in air. confirmed NaOH confirmed
Dimethyl DMG-Ni- Na2HPO4 Co3(PO4)2 O.S. + Na2HPO4 White ppt. C.S + Potassium Yellow
glyoxime DMG Mn3(PO4)2 Ferrocynide Zn2[Fe(CN)6]
(DMG) K4[Fe(CN)6]

5. 5th Group: If no ppt. formed (with O.S + NH4Cl(s) + NH4OH + H2S) then it indicates absence of 4th group [O.S + NH4Cl(s)+boil+cool+NH4OH+(NH4)2CO3] if white ppt. formed then any one of the
basic radical of 5th group (Ba+2,Sr+2 and Ca+2) may be present. Dissolves the ppt. in CH3COOH, divide in the three parts.
Calcium (Ca+2) Strontium (Sr+2) Barium (Ba+2)
1st Part+(NH4)2C2O4→White ppt. (CaC2O4) Ca+2 indicated 2nd Part+(NH4)2SO4→White ppt. SrSO4 3rd Part+K2CrO4→Yellow ppt. (BaCrO4) Ba+2 indicated
Exp. Obs. Inf. Exp. Obs. Inf. Exp. Obs. Inf.
O.S.+NH4OH + White ppt. CaSO4 O.S. + dil. H2SO4 White ppt. (SrSO4) O.S. + dil. H2SO4 White ppt. (BaSO4)
H2SO4(dil)
O.S. + White ppt. Ca+2 confirmed O.S. + Na2HPO4(sol.) White ppt. Sr+2 confirmed O.S. + (NH4)2C2O4 White ppt. Ba+2 confirmed
NH4Cl+K4Fe(CN)6] Ca2[Fe(CN)6] (SrHPO4) (BaC2O4)
Flame test Brick red Flame test Crimson red Flame test Grassy green

6. 6th Group: if no ppt. formed then it indicates of 5th group, any one of the basic radical of 6th group (Mg+2, NH4+1, K+1 and Na+1) may be present.
Dr. Gulzar Muhammad & Prof. Nabeel-Ur-Rehman
 Magnesium (Mg+2) Ammonium (NH4+1) Potassium (K+1) Sodium (Na+1)
O.S+ NH4Cl(s) + boil + Cool + NH4OH + O.S + NaOH(s) + heat → NH3(g) giving white O.S. + CH3COOH + Sod. Cobalt nitrite O.S. +KOH + Pot. Pyro antimonite (K2H2Sb2O7)
(NH4)2HPO4 white ppt. (MgHPO4) funes (NH4Cl) with NH4OH indicated Na2[Co(NO2)6] → Yellow ppt. →White ppt.
Mg+2 indicated K+1 indicated Na+1 indicated
Exp. Obs. Inf. Exp. Obs. Inf. Exp. Obs. Inf. Exp. Obs. Inf.
O.S. + NaOH White ppt. O.S.+ NaOH(sol) Reddish O.S. + picric Yellow O.S.+ Zinc uranyl acetate Yellow ppt.
Mg(OH)2 Nessler’s brown color acid crystals of
Mg+2 reagent NH4+1 potassium O.S.+ KOH+ potassium White Na+1
O.S. + White ppt. confirmed (K2HgI4) confirmed Picrate K+1 pyroantimonate solution crystalline confirmed
Na2CO3 (MgCO3) O.S. + Tartaric White ppt. confirmed ppt.
O.S. + Picric Yellow acid Pot. tartarate
Filter ash test Pink Ash acid needle like Flame test Green yellow
crystals Flame test Violet Flame flame

Borax bead test Flame test Filter ash test Colour of salt
Metal Oxidizing flame Reducing flame Colour Metal ion Colour Metal ion Colour Salt
Cu2+ Green when hot, blue when cold Colourless when hot Blue or green May be Cu2+, Co2+
opaque red when cold Yellowish green Ba2+ is Present Pink Mg2+ salts
Fe3+ Yellow, hot and cold Green, hot and cold Crimson red Sr2+ is Present Green Zn2+ salts Light green May be Fe2+
Cr3+ Green, hot and cold Green, hot and cold Brick red Ca2+ is Present Blue Al3+ salts Yellow May be Fe3+
Mn2+ Violet , hot and cold Colourless, hot and cold Dirty bluish Pink May be Mn2+, Co2+,
1+ 2+
Golden yellow Na is present. green Sn salts

Co2+ Blue, hot and cold Colourless, hot and cold Violet K1+ is present. Green May be Ni2+, Cr3+
Ni2+ Reddish brown when cold Grey when cold White or May be Ag1+, Pb2+, Hg2+, Bi3+,Cd2+,
Green or blue Cu+2 is present colourless Sn2+, Sn4+, Al3+, Zn2+, Ba2+, Ca2+,
Mg2+, K1+, Na1+, NH4+

Dr. Gulzar Muhammad & Prof. Nabeel-Ur-Rehman