Procedure for Inorganic Salt Analysis

Preliminary Test:

S.No. Experiment Observation Inference

1. Colour of the salt May be presence of Mg2+,
Colourless
Zn2+, Pb2+, Ba2+ and Ca2+
2. Odour: Ammoniacal pungent
Noted the odour of the salt. May be presence of NH4+
odour.
No Specific odour. Absence of NH4+
3. Solubility: May be due to presence of Cl
Soluble.
A pinch of the sample was –, SO42 – and NO3 –

taken in a test tube and May be absence of Cl –, SO42 –

stirred with water. Insoluble.
and NO3 –
4. Action of Heat: Reddish brown gas
Presence of NO3–
A small amount of sample evolved.
was taken in a dry test tube Colourless, odourless gas
and heated strongly. evolved and turned lime Presence of CO32 –
water to milky nature.
Salt sublimes with the
evolution of pungent Presence of NH4+
odour.
Greenish yellow gas
Presence of Cl –
evolved.
Salt turns yellow on hot
Presence of Zn2+
and white on cold.
Absence of NO3–, CO32 –,
No characteristic change.
NH4+, Cl – and Zn2+.
5 Flame Test: Apple green flame
The sample + conc.HCl and formed. Presence of Ba2+
the paste shown in flame.
Brick red flame formed. Presence of Ca2+

No characteristic change. Absence of Ba2+ and Ca2+

6. Dil.H2SO4 Test:
The sample + dil.H2SO4. Brisk effervescence
Presence of CO32 –
produced.

A reddish brown gas was

Presence of NO3 –
evolved
No characteristic change. Absence of CO32 – and NO3–
7. BaCl2 Test: A white precipitate
Sample solution + BaCl2 formed which was Presence of SO42 –
solution. insoluble in conc.HCl

No characteristic change. Absence of SO42–

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Confirmatory test for acidic radicals (Anions):

1. Confirmatory test for CO32 –: Brisk effervescences Presence of CO32– is

Sample + dil.H2SO4. produced. confirmed.
2. Confirmatory test for Cl–: Curdy white precipitate
Silver nitrate Test: obtained. This was Presence of Cl – is
Sample solution + dil. HNO3 + soluble in NH4OH confirmed.
AgNO3 solution. solution.
3. Confirmatory test for NO32 – :
Brown ring test:
Sample solution + FeSO4 + A dark brown ring was Presence of NO3– is
conc.H2SO4 were added along formed at the junction of confirmed.
the side of the test tube. the two layers.

4. Confirmatory test for SO42–:

Sample solution + acetic acid + A white precipitate Presence of SO42– is
lead acetate solution. formed. confirmed.

Preparation of sample solution:

 For water soluble salt: A small amount of the sample was dissolved in 5 ml of water.
 For water insoluble salt: A small amount of the sample was dissolved in 5 ml of dil. HCl
Inter group separation analysis:

S.No. Experiment Observation Inference

1. Test for zero Group Colourless gas with pungent
cation: odour, giving dense white
Presence of NH4+
Sample solution + NaOH fumes with a glass rod dipped
solution. in conc.HCl.
No characteristic change. Absence of NH4+
2. Test for group-I cation: White precipitate was formed. Presence of Pb2+
Sample solution + dil.HCl.
No characteristic change. Absence of Pb2+
3. Test for group-II cation: Black precipitate was formed. Presence of Cu2+
To the above mixture of
group I, H2S gas was No characteristic change. Absence of Cu2+
passed.
4. Test for group-III Green precipitate was formed. Presence of Fe2+
cations:
White precipitate was formed. Presence of Al3+
Sample solution + NH4Cl
+ NH4OH Solution. No characteristic change. Absence of Fe2+ and Al3+
5. Test for group-IV Dirty white precipitate was
Presence of Zn2+
cation: formed.
To the above mixture of
group III, H2S gas was No characteristics change. Absence of Zn2+
passed.
6. Test for group-V
White precipitate was formed. Presence of Ba2+and Ca2+
cations:
Sample solution + NH4Cl,
NH4OH + (NH4)2CO3 No characteristic change. Absence of Ba2+and Ca2+
solutions.
7. Test for group –VI White precipitate was formed. Presence of Mg2+
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cation:
Sample solution + NH4Cl,
No characteristic change. Absence of Mg2+
NH4OH + (NH4)3PO4
solution.

Confirmatory test for basic radicals (Cations):

Confirmatory test for zero group cation (NH4+):

S.No. Experiment Observation Inference

1. Nessler’s Reagent Test:
Sample solution warmed
Brown precipitate was Presence of NH4+ is
with NaOH solution and
obtained. confirmed.
was mixed with Nessler’s
reagent.

Confirmatory test for Group – I cation (Pb2+):

S.No. Experiment Observation Inference

1. Sample solution + KI Yellow precipitate obtained.
solution. (which dissolved on heating Presence of Pb2+ is
and reappeared as golden confirmed.
yellow spangles on cooling)

Confirmatory test for Group – IV cation (Zn2+):

S.No. Experiment Observation Inference

1. Sample solution +
White precipitate was Presence of Zn2+ is
potassium ferrocyanide
obtained. confirmed.
solution.

Confirmatory test for Group – V cations (Ba2+ and Ca2+):

S.No. Experiment Observation Inference

1. Sample solution + Yellow precipitate was Presence of Ba2+ is
potassium chromate obtained. confirmed.
solution. No yellow precipitate Absence of Ba2+
2. Sample solution + White precipitate was Presence of Ca2+ is
(NH4)2C2O4 solution. obtained. confirmed.
No white precipitate. Absence of Ca2+

Confirmatory Test for Group – VI cation (Mg2+):

S.No. Experiment Observation Inference

2. Sample solution + Presence of Mg2+ is
Blue precipitate was obtained.
Magneson’s reagent. confirmed

Result:
The given sample salt contains,
1. Acidic radical (anion) :
2. Basic radical (cation) :
3. Molecular formula :