ANALYTICAL / PRACTICAL CHEMISTRY

Analytical Chemistry :
Analytical chemistry is the branch of chemistry involved with quantitative and qualitative
analysis for identification of the chemical components of natural and artificial substances.

Quantitative analysis helps to determine the amount of certain components in the given
sample substance.

Qualitative analysis helps to identify or detect the chemical species ( cations

& anions ) in the given sample substance.

In the qualitative analysis, an unknown substance are identified using different reagents.
Most commonly used reagents are :
→ for identification of cations : NaOH and NH4OH
→ for identification of anions : HCl, H2SO4, HNO3, BaCl2, AgNO3, etc.

Flame test
Solutions of ions, when mixed with concentrated HCl and heated on a Ni / Cr / Pt wire in a flame, cause
the flame to change to a characteristic color.

Visible colors occur with the following ions are :

Element Flame colour

Sodium Golden yellow

Potassium Lilac

Calcium Brick red

Strontium Crimson

Barium Apple green

Lead Pale bluish

Copper Green with blue streaks

Rajendra Burriwar, M.Sc., B.Ed.

Ph : 9892196963
I C S E – Chemistry ANALYTICAL / PRACTICAL CHEMISTRY 2

SOLUBILITY CHART :

 All nitrates are soluble in water.

 All sodium, potassium, and ammonium salts are soluble.
 All chlorides, bromides, and iodides are soluble except those of silver, mercury (I), and lead.
 All sulphates are soluble except those of calcium, barium, and lead (II) salts, are insoluble.
 All carbonates, sulphites, and phosphates are insoluble except those of Na+, K+, and NH4+.
 All sulphides are insoluble except those of the alkali metals, the alkaline earth metals.
 All hydroxides are insoluble except those of the alkali metals.

Transition metals generally form coloured compounds with other elements. Many of these salts are soluble in
water, forming coloured solutions.
→ If sodium hydroxide solution is added, a precipitate of an insoluble metal hydroxide is formed.
→ If ammonium hydroxide solution is added in few drops, a precipitate of an insoluble metal hydroxide is
formed, in some compounds this precipitate generally disappear when excess ammonium hydroxide is added.

Action of aqueous Sodium hydroxide and aqueous Ammonia solution on metal ions :

action of SODIUM HYDROXIDE solution action of AQUEOUS AMMONIA solution

Ions present precipitate In excess Ions present precipitate In excess

Ca 2+ White Insoluble Ca2+ White Insoluble

Zn 2+ White Soluble Zn 2+ White Soluble

Pb 2+ White Soluble Pb 2+ White Insoluble

Cu 2+ Blue Insoluble Cu 2+ Blue Soluble

Fe 2+ Dirty-green Insoluble Fe 2+ Dirty-green Insoluble

Fe 3+ Reddish brown Insoluble Fe 3+ Reddish brown Insoluble

Example
→ If you add a few drops of sodium hydroxide solution to a nitrate solution. If you get a dirty green precipitate it
would show that the unknown substance was iron (II) nitrate; if you get a reddish brown precipitate it would
show that the unknown substance was iron (III) nitrate.

→ If you add a few drops of ammonium hydroxide solution to a sulphate solution. If you get a pale blue
precipitate it would show that the unknown substance was copper (II) sulphate; if you add excess NH4OH the
pale blue ppt. disappear and changes to an inky blue solution.
I C S E – Chemistry ANALYTICAL / PRACTICAL CHEMISTRY 3

DETECTION OF CATIONS

Test – I Test – II

SODIUM HYDROXIDE AMMONIUM HYDROXIDE

Detection of Ca 2 + ions

CaCl2 + NaOH → NaCl + Ca(OH)2 CaCl2 + NH4OH → No Visible Reaction

 White ppt. of Ca(OH)2 is formed
 Insoluble in excess NaOH.

Detection of Mg 2 + ions

Mg(NO)3 + NaOH → NaNO3 + Mg(OH)2 Mg(NO)3 + NH4OH → NH4NO3 + Mg(OH)2

 Dull white ppt. of Mg(OH)2 is formed.  Dull white ppt. of Mg(OH)2 is formed.

 Insoluble in excess NaOH.  Insoluble in excess NH4OH.

Detection of Zn 2 + ions

ZnSO4 + 2 NaOH → Na2SO4 + Zn(OH)2 ZnSO4 + 2 NH4OH → (NH4)2SO4 + Zn(OH)2

 White ppt. soluble in excess NaOH.  White ppt. soluble in excess NH4OH.
 Soluble salt formed is Na2ZnO2  Soluble salt formed is [ Zn (NH3)4 ] SO4

Detection of Pb 2 + ions

Pb(NO)3 + NaOH → NaNO3 + Pb(OH)2 Pb(NO)3 + NH4OH → NH4NO3 + Pb(OH)2

 White ppt. soluble in excess NaOH.  White ppt. of Pb(OH)2 is formed.

 Soluble salt formed is Na2PbO2  Insoluble in excess NH4OH.
I C S E – Chemistry ANALYTICAL / PRACTICAL CHEMISTRY 4

Detection of Fe 2 + ions

FeSO4 + 2 NaOH → Na2SO4 + Fe(OH)2 FeSO4 + 2 NH4OH → (NH4)2SO4 + Fe(OH)2

 Dirty green ppt. of Fe(OH)2 is formed  Dirty green ppt. of Fe(OH)2 is formed
 Insoluble in excess NaOH.  Insoluble in excess NH4OH.

Detection of Fe 3 + ions

FeCl3 + 3 NaOH → 3 NaCl + Fe(OH)3 FeCl3 + 3 NH4OH → 3 NH4Cl + Fe(OH)3

 Reddish brown ppt. of Fe(OH)3  Reddish brown ppt. of Fe(OH)3

 Insoluble in excess NaOH Soln  Insoluble in excess NH4OH Soln

Detection of Cu 2 + ions

CuSO4 + 2 NaOH → Na2SO4 + Cu(OH)2 CuSO4 + 2 NH4OH → (NH4)2SO4 + Cu(OH)2

 Pale blue ppt. of Cu(OH)2 is formed.  Pale blue ppt. of Cu(OH)2 is formed.
 Insoluble in excess NaOH Soln  Soluble in excess NH4OH Soln

 Deep blue solution of a soluble complex

salt tetra-amine copper sulphate
[ Cu (NH3)4 ] SO4 is formed.
I C S E – Chemistry ANALYTICAL / PRACTICAL CHEMISTRY 5

DETECTION OF ANIONS

Test for Carbonates ( CO3 2 – )

Reaction Observation

Test – I
Salt Soln + Dil. HCl → Salt + Water + CO2   Colourless odourless gas evolved
with brisk effervescence.
Na2CO3 + HCl → 2 NaCl + H2O + CO2   Gas turns limewater milky.

Test – II
Na2CO3 + BaCl2 → 2 NaCl + BaCO3  (white ppt. )  White ppt. of barium carbonate is
formed.
BaCO3 + 2 HCl → BaCl2 + H2O + CO2 
 White ppt. dissolves in dil. HCl

 a colourless odorless gas is evolved

with brisk effervescence.

Test for Sulphites ( SO3 2 – )

Test – I
Salt Soln + Dil. HCl → Salt + Water + SO2 ↑  Colourless gas is evolved
 Gas turns limewater milky
Na2CO3 + HCl → 2 NaCl + H2O + SO2 ↑
 Gas turns KMnO4 soln. colourless

Test – II
 White ppt. of BaSO4 is formed.
Na2SO3 + BaCl2 → 2 NaCl + BaSO3  (white ppt )
 ppt. get dissolve in dil. HCl and a
colourless gas is evolved.
BaSO3 + 2 HCl → BaCl2 + H2O + SO2 ↑
 Gas turns KMnO4 soln. colourless

Test for Sulphates ( SO4 2 – )

Test – I
Salt Soln + BaCl2 → Soluble Salt + Insoluble salt  White ppt. formed.

Na2SO4 + BaCl2 → 2 NaCl + BaSO4   White ppt. insoluble in HCl.

I C S E – Chemistry ANALYTICAL / PRACTICAL CHEMISTRY 6

Test for Chlorides ( Cl – )

Salt Soln + AgNO3 → Soluble Salt + Insoluble salt  White ppt. of AgCl is formed.
 White ppt. is soluble NH4OH.
NaCl + AgNO3 → Na NO3 + AgCl   White ppt. is insoluble in HNO3.
AgCl + 2 NH4OH → [ Ag (NH3)2] Cl + 2 H2O

Test for Sulphide ion ( S 2 – )

 Colourless, acidic gas with rotten

Salt + Dil. HCl → Salt + H2S ↑
egg smell is produced.
 Gas turns moist blue litmus red.
ZnS + 2 HCl → ZnCl2 + H 2S ↑
 Gas turns moist lead acetate paper
FeS + 2 HCl → FeCl2 + H2S ↑
silvery black.

Test for Nitrate ion ( NO3 – )

Salt Soln + Cu + Conc. H2SO4 → Salt + H2O + NO2 ↑  Reddish brown fumes are evolved.

 Gas turns moist blue litmus red.

4 NaNO3 + Cu + 4 H2SO4 →  Gas turns KI paper brown.

4 NaHSO4 + Cu(NO3)2 + 4 H2O + 2 NO2 ↑

Test for Gases

Tests for HCl Gas

Test Observation

 Glass rod dipped in ammonia  Dense white fumes of NH4Cl are formed.
solution brought near vapours NH3 + HCl → NH4Cl
of Hydrogen chloride gas. [ dense white fumes ]

Test for NO Gas :

 When comes in contact with air  Gives reddish brown fumes of nitrogen dioxide.
react with oxygen. 2 NO + O2 → NO2 ( Reddish brown )
I C S E – Chemistry ANALYTICAL / PRACTICAL CHEMISTRY 7

Tests for Cl2 Gas :

Test Observation

 Colour and Odour Greenish yellow gas with suffocating odour.

 Bleaching property Bleaches Coloured petals → Colourless.
 Blue litmus paper Blue litmus paper → Red and then → Colourless

Starch iodide paper  Turns moist starch iodide paper blue black.

 Starch iodide paper is a filter paper dipped in starch and

potassium iodide solution.
 The chlorine gas displaces the iodine present in KI, which
reacts with the starch giving a blue-black colour.
2 KI + Cl2 → 2 KCl + I2

Passage of chlorine gas through  Turns colourless potassium bromide solutions red due to
Solution of potassium bromide liberation of free bromine.
[ KBr ] 2 KBr + Cl2 → 2 KCl + Br2
(colourless) (red soln.)

If chloroform is added to this solution the chloroform

layer turns reddish brown.

Passage of chlorine gas through  Turns colourless potassium iodide solution deep brown
Solution of potassium Iodide (KI) due to displacement of free iodine.

2 KI + Cl2 → 2 KCl + I2
(colourless) (deep brown)
 If chloroform is added to this solution the chloroform
layer turns purple.

Tests for CO2 Gas:

Passage of CO2 through lime water  Lime water turn milky

Passage of CO2 through :
aqueous KMnO4 / acidified K2Cr2O7 solutions  No change
I C S E – Chemistry ANALYTICAL / PRACTICAL CHEMISTRY 8

Test For SO2 Gas :

Test Observation

Combustion  Burns with pale blue flame

Aqueous KMnO4 Solution  Pink colour solution gets decolorised.

2 KMnO4 + 2 H2O + 5 SO2 → 2 MnSO4 + K2SO4 + 2 H2SO4
( pink ) ( colourless )

Acidified K2Cr2O7 Solution  Orange coloured solution turns clear green.

K2Cr2O7 + H2SO4 + 3 SO2 → Cr2(SO4)3 + K2SO4 + H2O

( orange ) ( green )

Chlorine water  Pale yellow chlorine water gets decolorized.

Cl2 + 2 H2O + SO2 → H2SO4 + 2 HCl

Moist coloured petals  Bleaches moist coloured petals to colourless.

[add dil. HNO3 (oxidizing agent) - original colour of flower
reappears due to oxidation]

Aqueous FeCl3 Solution  It turns reddish brown ferric chloride solution to light green
ferrous chloride.

FeCl3 + 2H2O + SO2 → FeCl2 + H2SO4 + 2 HCl

Test for NO2 Gas :

Test Observation

Colour  Reddish brown gas with pungent and irritating odour.

 Turns moist blue litmus red.

 Turns potassium iodide paper brown.

Test for H2S Gas :

Odour  Rotten egg smell

When passed over moist  Turns Lead acetate paper black.

lead acetate paper. Pb(CH3COO)2 + H2S → 2 CH3COOH + PbS ( silvery black )

I C S E – Chemistry ANALYTICAL / PRACTICAL CHEMISTRY 9

Tests for NH3 Gas :

Test Observation

Glass rod dipped in hydrochloric acid  Dense white fumes of NH4Cl are formed.

solution brought near the vapours of NH3 + HCl → NH4Cl

ammonia. (dense white fumes)

By passing ammonia gas through  Colourless Nessler’s reagent pale brown.

Nessler’s reagent [ K2 Hg I4 ]  On passing excess of ammonia gas a brown ppt. is
obtained.

By passing NH3 gas through aqueous  Pale blue ppt. of copper hydroxide is formed.
Copper sulphate solution. CuSO4 + H2O + NH3 → Cu(OH)2  + (NH4)2SO4
[ pale blue ppt.]
Cu(OH)2 + (NH4)2SO4 + 2 NH4OH →  Turns inky blue on passage of excess of ammonia

[ Cu (NH3)4 ] SO4 + 2 H2O this is due to the formation of the soluble complex
salt tetra amine copper (II) sulphate.

Tests for Other Gases :

Oxygen gas
When passed through alkaline  Turns alkaline pyrogallol solution brown.
pyrogallol solution.

Supporter of combustion  Rekindles the glowing splinter.

Hydrogen gas

Combustible gas  Burns with pale blue flame.

Forms an explosive mixture with air / pop sound

Carbon monoxide gas

Combustible gas  Burns with pale blue flame

Nitrogen gas  Non-combustible and

 Non- supporter of combustion

I C S E – Chemistry ANALYTICAL / PRACTICAL CHEMISTRY 10

GIVE A CHEMICAL TEST TO DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE FOLLOWING PAIR OF COMPOUNDS

Test / Reagent Sodium chloride solution Sodium nitrate solution

Add silver nitrate solution Give white ppt. No ppt.

Test / Reagent Calcium nitrate Zinc nitrate

Add sodium hydroxide soln. White ppt. Gelatinous white ppt.

Insoluble in excess Soluble in excess

Test / Reagent Sodium sulphate Sodium sulphite

Add acidified BaCl2 Give white ppt. No ppt.

Test / Reagent Ferrous sulphate Copper sulphate

Add NH4OH soln. Give dirty green ppt. Give pale blue ppt.
Insoluble in excess Give inky blue soln. with
excess

Test / Reagent Potassium chloride Potassium iodide

Add lead nitrate soln. Give white ppt. Give bright yellow ppt.

Test / Reagent Sodium chloride solution Sodium sulphate solution

Add barium chloride soln. No ppt. Give white ppt.

Test / Reagent Zinc nitrate solution Zinc sulphate solution

Add barium nitrate soln. No ppt. Give white ppt.

Test / Reagent Dil. Sulphuric acid Dil. Hydrochloric acid

Add barium chloride soln. Give white ppt. No ppt.

I C S E – Chemistry ANALYTICAL / PRACTICAL CHEMISTRY 11

Test / Reagent Dil. Nitric acid Dil. Hydrochloric acid

Add silver nitrate soln. No ppt. Give white ppt.

Test / Reagent Sodium hydroxide solution Acetic acid

 Add phenolphthalein. Turn Pink No change

Test / Reagent Sulphur dioxide gas Carbon dioxide gas

 Acidified K2Cr2O7 paper Turn orange to green No change

Test / Reagent Carbon dioxide gas Carbon monoxide

 Pass through lime water Turn milky No change

Test / Reagent Hydrogen chloride gas Hydrogen sulphide gas

1. Bring glass rod dipped in Give dense white fumes No dense white fumes
NH3 soln. near the gas.
2. Moist lead acetate paper No change Turn silvery black

Test / Reagent Ethene Ethane

1. Add reddish brown Br2 soln. Turn colourless No change

2. Add alkaline KMnO4 Soln. Turn colourless No change

Test / Reagent Ammonia gas Hydrogen chloride gas

 Litmus paper Turn red litmus blue Turn blue litmus red

Test / Reagent hydrogen gas Oxygen gas

 Bring glowing splinter near Burns with pop sound Rekindles

I C S E – Chemistry ANALYTICAL / PRACTICAL CHEMISTRY 12

Nature / Collection / Colour / Odour of Some Important Gases :

Nature Gases V.D. Collection Colour Odour

H2S 17 Upward displacement of air Colourless Rotten egg

HCl 18.25 Upward displacement of air Colourless Pungent

Acidic CO2 22 Upward displacement of air Colourless Odourless

NO2 23 Upward displacement of air Reddish brown Pungent

SO2 32 Upward displacement of air Colourless Pungent

Cl2 35.5 Upward displacement of air Greenish yellow Pungent

Basic NH3 8.5 Down ward displacement of air Colourless Pungent

CH4 8 Down ward displacement of water Colourless Odourless

C2H2 13 Down ward displacement of water Colourless Garlic smell

C2H4 14 Down ward displacement of water Colourless Sweet

C2H6 15 Down ward displacement of water Colourless Odourless

Neutral H2 1 Down ward displacement of water Colourless Odourless

N2 14 Down ward displacement of water Colourless Odourless

CO 14 Down ward displacement of water Colourless Odourless

NO 15 Down ward displacement of water Colourless Odourless

O2 16 Down ward displacement of water Colourless Odourless

N2O 22 Upward displacement of air Colourless Odourless

I C S E – Chemistry ANALYTICAL / PRACTICAL CHEMISTRY 13

IDENTIFY THE GAS EVOLVED IN THE FOLLOWING REACTIONS :

 Crystals of KNO3 are heated in a hard glass test tube → oxygen gas

 Mg metal added to dilute HCl → hydrogen gas

 Zn metal added to acetic acid → hydrogen gas

 Conc. HCl is made to react with MnO2 → chlorine gas

 Dil. H2SO4 added to bleaching powder → chlorine gas

 NH4NO2 crystals are heated in a test tube → nitrogen gas

 Cl2 gas react with excess ammonia gas → nitrogen gas

 (NH4)2Cr2O7 crystals of are heated in a hard glass test tube → nitrogen gas

 NaCl is heated along with conc. H2SO4 → hydrogen chloride gas

 Sulphur is treated with conc. HNO3 → nitrogen dioxide gas

 Na2SO3 is treated with dilute HCl → sulphur dioxide gas

 Cu metal added to conc. H2SO4 and heated → sulphur dioxide gas

 phosphorus added to conc. H2SO4 and heated → sulphur dioxide gas

 K2CO3 is treated with dil. H2SO4 → carbon dioxide gas

 Na2CO3 is treated with acetic acid → carbon dioxide gas

 dil. H2SO4 added to FeS → hydrogen sulphide gas

 A mixture of slaked lime and NH4Cl heated in a flask → ammonia gas

 A mixture of slaked lime and (NH4)2SO4 heated in a flask → ammonia gas

 Warm water added to Mg3N2 → ammonia gas

 Warm water added to AlN → ammonia gas

 Conc. H2SO4 is added to formic acid and heated → carbon monoxide gas

 NH4NO3 crystals are heated in a test tube → nitrous oxide gas

 Zn metal added to dil. HNO3 and heated → nitric oxide gas

 Cu metal added to dil. HNO3 and heated → nitric oxide gas

 Sodium ethanoate is heated with soda lime → methane gas

 Sodium propionate is heated with soda lime → ethane gas

 C2H5OH and conc. H2SO4 heated about 160 o C → ethene gas

 Calcium carbide reacts with water → ethyne gas

I C S E – Chemistry ANALYTICAL / PRACTICAL CHEMISTRY 14