SALT ANALYSIS
Aim: To detect the presence of acidic radical and basic radical in the given salt sample. (______)
Experiment Observations Inference
1. Physical Appearance
i) Colour White Cu2+, Co2+, Ni2+, Fe2+,
Fe3+, Mn2+, Cr3+ absent.
ii) Odour Vinegar like smell may be CH3COO –
Ammoniacal smell may be NH4+
No characteristic smell CH3COO – and NH4+
absent
ANIONS
Carbonate (CO32–)
2. Anion Analysis
i) Preliminary tests
a) Salt + dil. H2SO4 Brisk effervescence of dilute acid group present;
colourless odourless CO2 gas may be CO32–
ii) Confirmatory tests
a) Lime water test lime water turns milky and CO32– confirmed
Pass gas through Ca(OH)2 colourless again on passing
excess gas
b) Magnesium sulphate test
OS + MgSO4 solution white ppt of MgCO3 CO32– confirmed
Chemical reactions
Anion analysis
CO32– + H2SO4 → SO42– + H2O + CO2(g)↑
brisk effervescence
Lime water test
𝐶𝑂2 𝑒𝑥𝑐𝑒𝑠𝑠
Ca(OH)2 + CO2 → CaCO3(s) + H2O → Ca(HCO3)2
milky ppt colourless solution
Magnesium sulphate test
CO32– + MgSO4 → MgCO3(s)↓ + SO42–
white ppt
–
Chloride (Cl )
2. Anion Analysis
i) Preliminary tests
a) Salt + dil. H2SO4 no gas evolved dilute acid group absent;
CO32–, SO32–, S2–, NO2–
absent.
b) Salt + conc. H2SO4 + rod dipped in NH4OH pungent irritating gas gives Conc. acid group present
white fumes with rod dipped in may be Cl–
NH4OH.
ii) Confirmatory tests
a) Silver nitrate test
OS + AgNO3 solution white ppt soluble in excess Cl– confirmed
NH4OH
b) Chromyl chloride test
salt + solid K2Cr2O7 + conc. H2SO4. yellow ppt. Cl– confirmed
gas passed through NaOH +
Pb(CH3COO)2 solution
Chemical reactions
Anion analysis
Cl– + H2SO4 → HSO4– + HCl(g)↑
HCl + NH4(OH) → NH4Cl(g)↑ + H2O
white fumes
Silver nitrate test
Cl– + AgNO3 → NO3– + AgCl(s)↓
white ppt
Chromyl chloride test
4 Cl– + K2Cr2O7 + 3 H2SO4 → K2SO4 + 2 SO42– + 3 H2O + 2 CrO2Cl2(g)↑
Chromyl chloride (reddish brown)
CrO2Cl2 + 4 NaOH → Na2CrO4 + 2 NaCl + 2 H2O
Yellow coloration
Pb(CH3COO)2 + Na2CrO4 → PbCrO4(s)↓ + 2 CH3COONa
yellow ppt
–
Bromide (Br )
2. Anion Analysis
i) Preliminary tests
a) Salt + dil. H2SO4 no gas evolved dilute acid group absent;
CO32–, SO32–, S2–, NO2–
absent.
b) Salt + conc. H2SO4 Reddish-brown fumes of Br2(g) Conc. acid group present
may be Br–
ii) Confirmatory tests
a) Silver nitrate test
OS + AgNO3 solution pale yellow ppt partially Br– confirmed
soluble in excess NH4OH
b) Organic layer test
OS + CCl4 + excess chlorine water (KMnO4 orange coloration in solvent Br– confirmed
solution + conc. HCl mixture), shake layer
vigorously after some time
Chemical reactions
Anion analysis
2 Br– + 2 H2SO4 → SO42– + SO2 + 2 H2O + Br2(g)↑
reddish-brown fumes
Silver nitrate test
Br– + AgNO3 → NO3– + AgBr(s)↓
pale yellow ppt
Organic layer test
2 Br– + Cl2 → 2 Cl– + Br2
Orange coloration
–
Acetate (CH3COO )
2. Anion Analysis
i) Preliminary tests
a) Salt + dil. H2SO4 no gas evolved dilute acid group absent;
CO32–, SO32–, S2–, NO2–
absent.
b) Salt + conc. H2SO4 vinegar like smell Conc. acid group present
may be CH3COO –
ii) Confirmatory tests
a) Neutral ferric chloride test
OS + slight heat + neutral FeCl3 solution red coloration and ppt CH3COO – confirmed
b) Esterification
OS + concentrated H2SO4 + ethanol + warm fruity smell
in water bath and transfer in 50 mL water. CH3COO – confirmed
Chemical reactions
Anion analysis
2 CH3COO– + H2SO4 → SO42– + 2 CH3COOH↑
(CH3COO)3Fe + 2 H2O → 2 CH3COOH + Fe(OH)2(CH3COO) (s)↓
brown-red ppt
𝐻+
CH3COO– + C2H5OH → CH3COOC2H5 + H2O
fruity odour
–
Nitrate (NO3 )
2. Anion Analysis
i) Preliminary tests
a) Salt + dil. H2SO4 no gas evolved dilute acid group absent;
CO32–, SO32–, S2–, NO2–
absent.
b) Salt + conc. H2SO4 + Cu turnings + heat Reddish-brown fumes Conc. acid group present
may be NO3–
ii) Confirmatory test
Brown ring test
OS + freshly prepared FeSO4 solution + conc. brown ring formed at junction NO3– confirmed
H2SO4 along the side of the test tube of two liquids
Chemical reactions
Anion analysis
4 HNO3 + Cu(s) → Cu(NO3)2 + 2 H2O + 2 NO2(g)↑
reddish-brown fumes
– –
NO3 + H2SO4 → HSO4 + HNO3
6 FeSO4 + 3 H2SO4 + 2 HNO3 → 3 Fe2(SO4)3 + 4 H2O + 2 NO
FeSO4 + NO → [Fe(NO)]SO4
nitroso ferrous sulphate (brown ring)
2–
Sulphate (SO4 )
2. Anion Analysis
i) Preliminary tests
a) Salt + dil. H2SO4 no gas evolved dilute acid group absent;
CO32–, SO32–, S2–, NO2–
absent.
b) Salt + conc. H2SO4 no gas evolved Conc. acid group absent;
Cl–, Br–, I–, CH3COO–,
NO3– absent.
Independent group present
May be SO42– or PO43–.
ii) Confirmatory test
a) Barium chloride test white ppt insoluble in SO42– confirmed
OS + OS + BaCl2 conc. HCl
Chemical reactions
Anion analysis
Barium chloride test
SO42– + BaCl2 → BaSO4(s)↓ + 2 Cl–
white ppt
+
Ammonium (NH4 )
3. Cation Analysis
i) Preliminary tests
Salt + NaOH + rod dipped in conc. HCl dense white fumes Group 0 present;
may be NH4+
ii) Confirmatory tests
white fumes + Nessler’s reagent brown ppt NH4+ confirmed
Chemical reactions
Cation Analysis
NH4+ + 2 NaOH → SO42– + 2 H2O + 2 NH3(g)↑
NH3 + HCl → NH4Cl(g)↑
white fumes
2 K2[HgI4] + NH3 + 3 KOH → HgO.HgI.NH2(s)↓ + 7 KI + 2 H2O
Basic mercury(II) amido-iodine
brown ppt
2+
Lead (Pb )
3. Cation Analysis
i) Preliminary tests
a) Salt + NaOH + rod dipped in conc. HCl No fumes Group 0 absent;
NH4+ absent.
b) OS + dil. HCl white ppt Grp 1 present;
may be Pb2+
ii) Confirmatory tests
White ppt + water + heat → divide in 2 parts
a) Potassium chromate test
Part 1 + K2CrO4 solution canary yellow ppt Pb2+ confirmed
b) Potassium iodide test
Part 2 + KI solution darker yellow ppt Pb2+ confirmed
Chemical reactions
Cation Analysis
Pb2+ + 2 HCI → PbCl2(s)↓ + 2 H+
white ppt
PbCl2 + K2CrO4 → PbCrO4(s)↓ + 2 KCl PbCl2 + 2 KI → PbI2(s)↓ + 2 KCl
yellow ppt yellow ppt
3+
Aluminium (Al )
3. Cation Analysis
i) Preliminary tests
a) Salt + NaOH + rod dipped in conc. HCl No fumes Group 0 absent;
NH4+ absent.
b) OS + dil. HCl no ppt Grp 1 absent;
Pb2+ absent
c) OS + dil. HCl + H2S(g) no ppt Group 2 absent;
Pb2+, Cu2+ absent
d) OS + NH4Cl(s) + excess NH4OH gelatinous white ppt Group 3 present;
may be Al3+
ii) Confirmatory tests
ppt + dil. HCl → divide in 2 parts
a) Blue lake test
Part 1 + blue litmus solution + NH4OH floating blue ppt Al3+ confirmed
along sides
b) Solubility in NaOH ppt reappears which dissolves
Part 2 + NaOH + warm in excess NaOH Al3+ confirmed
Chemical reactions
Cation analysis
AlCl3 + 3 NH4OH → 3 NH4Cl + Al(OH)3(s)↓
gelatinous white ppt
Al(OH)3 + 3 HCl → AlCl3 + 3 H2O
Blue lake test
AlCl3 +3 NH4OH → 3 NH4Cl + Al(OH)3(s)↓
ppt reappears in blue lake
Solubility test
Al(OH)3 + NaOH → NaAlO2 + 2 H2O
sodium aluminate
(soluble in excess NaOH)
Zinc (Zn2+)
3. Cation Analysis
i) Preliminary tests
a) Salt + NaOH + rod dipped in conc. HCl No fumes Group 0 absent;
NH4+ absent.
b) OS + dil. HCl no ppt Grp 1 absent;
Pb2+ absent
c) OS + dil. HCl + H2S(g) no ppt Group 2 absent;
Pb2+, Cu2+ absent
d) OS + NH4Cl(s) + excess NH4OH no ppt Group 3 absent;
Al3+, Fe2+, Fe3+ absent
e) OS + pinch of NH4Cl + excess NH4OH + dirty-white ppt Group 4 present;
Na2S solution may be Zn2+
ii) Confirmatory tests
ppt + dil. HCl → divide in 2 parts
a) Potassium ferrocyanide test
Part 1 + K4[Fe(CN)6] solution yellowish green ppt Zn2+ confirmed
b) Solubility in NaOH
Part 2 + NaOH + warm ppt reappears which dissolves Zn2+ confirmed
in excess NaOH
Chemical reactions
Cation analysis
Zn(OH)2 + H2S → 2 H2O + ZnS(s)↓ (dirty white ppt)
2 ZnCl2 + K4[Fe(CN)6] → Zn2[Fe(CN)6](s)↓ + 4 KCl
bluish white ppt
2+
Barium (Ba )
3. Cation Analysis
i) Preliminary tests
a) Salt + NaOH + rod dipped in conc. HCl No fumes Group 0 absent;
NH4+ absent.
b) OS + dil. HCl no ppt Grp 1 absent;
Pb2+ absent
c) OS + dil. HCl + Na2S solution no ppt Group 2 absent;
Pb2+, Cu2+ absent
d) OS + pinch of NH4Cl + excess NH4OH no ppt Group 3 absent;
Al3+, Fe2+, Fe3+ absent
e) OS + pinch of NH4Cl + excess NH4OH + no ppt Group 4 absent;
Na2S solution Zn2+, Co2+, Ni2+, Mn2+
absent
f) OS + pinch of NH4Cl + excess NH4OH + white ppt Group 5 present;
solid (NH4)2CO3 may be Ba2+, Sr2+, Ca2+
ii) Confirmatory tests
ppt + CH3COOH → divide in 3 parts
a) Potassium chromate test
Part 1 + K2CrO4 solution yellow ppt Ba2+ confirmed
b) Flame test
Salt + conc. HCl paste burnt in flame apple green flame Ba2+ confirmed
Chemical reactions
Cation analysis
BaCl2 + (NH4)2CO3 → BaCO3(s)↓ + 2 NH4Cl
white ppt
Ba(CH3COO)2 + K2CrO4 → BaCrO4(s)↓ + 2 CH3COOK
yellow ppt
2+
Strontium (Sr )
3. Cation Analysis
i) Preliminary tests
a) Salt + NaOH + rod dipped in conc. HCl No fumes Group 0 absent;
NH4+ absent.
b) OS + dil. HCl no ppt Grp 1 absent;
Pb2+ absent
c) OS + dil. HCl + Na2S solution no ppt Group 2 absent;
Pb2+, Cu2+ absent
d) OS + pinch of NH4Cl + excess NH4OH no ppt Group 3 absent;
Al3+, Fe2+, Fe3+ absent
e) OS + pinch of NH4Cl + excess NH4OH + no ppt Group 4 absent;
Na2S solution Zn2+, Co2+, Ni2+, Mn2+
absent
f) OS + pinch of NH4Cl + excess NH4OH + white ppt Group 5 present;
solid (NH4)2CO3 may be Ba2+, Sr2+, Ca2+
ii) Confirmatory tests
ppt + CH3COOH → divide in 3 parts
a) Potassium chromate test
Part 1 + K2CrO4 solution no ppt Ba2+ absent
b) Ammonium sulphate test
Part 2 + (NH4)2SO4 solution white ppt Sr2+ confirmed
c) Flame test
Salt + conc. HCl paste burnt in flame crimson red flame Sr2+ confirmed
Chemical reactions
Cation analysis
SrCl2 + (NH4)2CO3 → SrCO3(s)↓ + 2 NH4Cl
white ppt
Ammonium sulphate test
Sr(CH3COO)2 + (NH4)2SO4 → SrSO4(s)↓ + 2 CH3COONH4
white ppt
Calcium (Ca2+)
3. Cation Analysis
i) Preliminary tests
a) Salt + NaOH + rod dipped in conc. HCl No fumes Group 0 absent;
NH4+ absent.
b) OS + dil. HCl no ppt Grp 1 absent;
Pb2+ absent
c) OS + dil. HCl + Na2S solution no ppt Group 2 absent;
Pb2+, Cu2+ absent
d) OS + pinch of NH4Cl + excess NH4OH no ppt Group 3 absent;
Al3+, Fe2+, Fe3+ absent
e) OS + pinch of NH4Cl + excess NH4OH + no ppt Group 4 absent;
Na2S solution Zn2+, Co2+, Ni2+, Mn2+
absent
f) OS + pinch of NH4Cl + excess NH4OH + white ppt Group 5 present;
solid (NH4)2CO3 may be Ba2+, Sr2+, Ca2+
ii) Confirmatory tests
ppt + CH3COOH → divide in 3 parts
a) Potassium chromate test
Part 1 + K2CrO4 solution no ppt Ba2+ absent
b) Ammonium sulphate test
Part 2 + (NH4)2SO4 solution no ppt Sr2+ absent
c) Ammonium oxalate test
Part 3 + (NH4)2C2O4 white ppt Ca2+ confirmed
d) Flame test
Salt + conc. HCl paste burnt in flame brick red flame Ca2+ confirmed
Chemical reactions
Cation analysis
CaCl2 + (NH4)2CO3 → CaCO3(s)↓ + 2 NH4Cl
white ppt
Ammonium oxalate test
Ca(CH3COO)2 + (NH4)2C2O4 → Ca(COO)2(s)↓ + 2 CH3COONH4
white ppt
Magnesium (Mg2+)
3. Cation Analysis
i) Preliminary tests
a) Salt + NaOH + rod dipped in conc. HCl No fumes Group 0 absent;
NH4+ absent.
b) OS + dil. HCl no ppt Grp 1 absent;
Pb2+ absent
c) OS + dil. HCl + Na2S solution no ppt Group 2 absent;
Pb2+, Cu2+ absent
d) OS + pinch of NH4Cl + excess NH4OH no ppt Group 3 absent;
Al3+, Fe2+, Fe3+ absent
e) OS + pinch of NH4Cl + excess NH4OH + no ppt Group 4 absent;
Na2S solution Zn2+, Co2+, Ni2+, Mn2+
absent
f) OS + pinch of NH4Cl + excess NH4OH + no ppt Group 5 absent;
solid (NH4)2CO3 Ba2+, Sr2+, Ca2+ absent
Group 6 present; may be
Mg2+
ii) Confirmatory tests
Disodium hydrogen phosphate test
solution from group 5 + Na2HPO4 solution white ppt Mg2+ confirmed
Chemical reactions
Cation analysis
Disodium hydrogen phosphate test
Mg2+ + NH4+ + HPO42– → Mg(NH4)PO4(s)↓ + H+
white ppt
Result
The given salt sample contains:
Basic radical =____
Acid radical = ______
