ALUMINIUM SULPHATE - Al2(SO4)3

S.No Test Observation Inference

1 DRY TEST:
Physical Examination
(a) Colour Colourless Absence of Cu2+, Ni2+, Fe3+, Mn2+, Co2+
salts.
(b) Nature Crystalline May be Cl-, SO42-, NO3- salts.
2 ACTION OF HEAT: No characteristic change Absence of CO32-, NH4+ , NO2-, NO3- ,
A little amount of salt is taken in a dry test tube and heated gently. Zn2+, CH3COO- salts.
3 FLAME TEST: No Characteristic coloured flame. Absence of Ba2+, Ca2+, Sr2+ salts.
A small amount of salt is made into a paste with Conc. HCl in a watch
glass and introduce in the non luminous part of flame.
4 ASH TEST: Blue ash Presence of Al3+.
A filter paper is soaked into a paste of the salt with Conc. HNO3 and
cobalt nitrate solution and watch glass and burnt.
5 SOLUBILITY: Soluble May be Cl-, SO42- and NO3- salts.
A little of salt is taken in a test tube and shook well with distilled water.
6 WET TEST No gas evolved. Absence of CO32- and S2-.
ACTION OF dil. HCl:
Take a little salt in a test tube and add dil. HCl.
7 ACTION OF NaOH: No Colourless gas evolved. NH4+ is absent.
Heat a little salt with NaOH solution.
8 Cu – TURNINGS TEST: No reddish brown gas evolved. Absence of NO3-.
Add copper turnings to a little salt and Conc. H2SO4. Heat mixture.
9 ETHYL ALCOHOL TEST: No fruity smell. Absence of CH3COO- .
A small amount of salt is added with Conc. H2SO4 and few drops of ethyl
alcohol.
10 ACTION OF Conc. H2SO4: No gas evolved. Absence of Cl-, Br-, I-, NO3-.
Take little salt in test tube. Add Conc. H2SO4 and heat.

11 AMMONIUM MOLYBDATE TEST: No yellow precipitate is obtained. Absence of PO43-.

 Boil a pinch of salt with 2 -3 mL of Conc. HNO3 and add excess of
ammonium molybdate solution.
PREPARATION OF SODIUM CARBONATE EXTRACT
Take 1 g of solid salt in clean boiling tube. Add 2 about 3 g of solid sodium carbonate. Mix it properly, and add 20 mL of distilled water. Boil for 5 – 10 minutes. Cool
and filter. The filtrate so obtained is sodium carbonate extract or soda extract.
12 SILVER NITRATE TEST: No characteristic coloured precipitate. Absence of Cl-, Br-, I-.
To a small quantity of soda extract, add dil. HNO 3 , boil to remove CO2 .
Cool and 1 mL of AgNO3 solution.
13 BARIUM CHLORIDE TEST: White precipitate of insoluble in dil. HCl SO42- is confirmed.
To a part of sodium extract, add acetic acid, boil off CO 2. Add BaCl2 or HNO3.
solution.
14 BROWN RING TEST: No brown ring is formed. NO3- is absent.
Take 2 -3 mL of soda extract in a test tube. Neutralise with acetic acid.
Heat to expel CO2 gas and cool. Add to drops of freshly prepared
solution of ferrous sulphate and Conc.H2SO4 from sides of test tube so
that it forms another layer.
15 SODIUM NITROPRUSSIDE TEST: No violet colouration. S2- is absent.
To a part of soda extract, add few drops of sodium nitroprusside
solution.
IDENTIFICATION OF CONFORMATION OF CATIONS
GROUP SEPARATION
PREPARATION OF ORIGINAL SOLUTION
The original solution is prepared by dissolving 1 g of salt in 10 mL distilled water in a boiling tube and heating. It insoluble, add dil. HCl or dil. HNO3.
16. ZERO GROUP: Absence of NH4+
A small amount of salt is heated with conc. NaOH solution. No Pungent smelling gas .

Original solution

dil. HCl

No White Precipitate Absence of Group - I cations

Pass H2S gas

 No White Precipitate Absence of Group – II cations

Boil of Add NH4Cl

H2S gas and NH4OH

Gelatinous White Precipitate Presence of Group - III cations

(may be Al3+ or Fe3+)
Pass H2S gas

No Dirty White Precipitate Absence of Group – IV cations

Boil of Add (NH4)2CO3,

H2S gas NH4OH (excess)
and NH4Cl

No White Precipitate Absence of Group – V cations

Add Na2HPO4,
NH4OH (excess)
and NH4Cl

No Precipitate obtained Absence of Group - VI cations

CONFIRMATORY TESTS FOR CATIONS
1. ANALYSIS OF GROUP - III (Al3+)
i. To the original solution add a few drops of blue litmus solution followed Al3+ is confirmed.
Blue ppt floating in transparent solution.
by 2 mL of NH4OH.

Result:

 Cation : Al3+ Anion : SO42-

 The given salt is Aluminium sulphate ( Al2(SO4)3 )