Qualitative analysis is identification.

In other words, it is an analysis carried out

to determine only the identity of a pure analyte, the identity of an analyte in a matrix, or
the identity of several or all components of a mixture. Stated another way, it is an
analysis to determine what a material is or what the components of a mixture are.
Quantitative analysis, on the other hand, is the analysis of a material for how much of
one or more components is present. Such an analysis is undertaken when the identity of
the components is already known and when it is important to also know the quantities
of these components (Kenkel, 2003: 2).

An ion is an atom or a group of atoms that has a net positive or negative

charge. The number of positively charged protons in the nucleus of an atom
remains the same during ordinary chemical changes (called chemical reactions),
but negatively charged electrons may be lost or gained. The loss of one or more
electrons from a neutral atom results in a cation, an ion with a net positive charge.
For example, a sodium atom (Na) can readily lose an electron to become a sodium cation.
On the other hand, an anion is an ion whose net charge is negative due to an
increase in the number of electrons. A chlorine atom (Cl), for instance, can gain an
electron to become the chloride ion Cl- (Chang, 2011 : 39-40).

(Brown, : 59).

In any neutral compound, the total number of positive charges must equal the
total number of negative charges. Thus, you can always figure out the number of
positive charges on a metal cation by counting the number of negative charges on the
associated anion(s). In FeCl2, for example, the iron ion must be Fe(II) because there are
two Cl- ions associated with it. Similarly, in TiCl3 the titanium ion is Ti(III) because there
are three Cl- anions associated with it. As a general rule, a Roman numeral is needed for
transition-metal compounds to avoid ambiguity. In addition, the main-group metals tin
(Sn), thallium (Tl), and lead (Pb) can form more than one kind of ion and need Roman
numerals for naming their compounds (McMurry, : 62).

Qualitative analysis determines only the presence or absence of a particular

metal ion, whereas quantitative analysis determines how much of a given substance is
present. Even though wet methods of qualitative analysis have become less important in
the chemical industry, they are frequently used in general chemistry laboratory
programs to illustrate equilibria, to teach the properties of common metal ions in
solution, and to develop laboratory skills. Typically, such analyses proceed in three
stages: (1) The ions are separated into broad groups on the basis of solubility properties.
(2) The ions in each group are separated by selectively dissolving members in the group.
(3) The ions are identified by means of specific tests (Brown, : 736-737).

The classic scheme for qualitative analysis of a mixture containing all the
common cations, involves first separating them into five major groups based on
solubilities. (These groups are not directly related to the groups of the periodic table.)
Each group is then treated further to separate and identify the individual ions. We will
be concerned here only with separation of the major groups. Group I—Insoluble
chlorides When dilute aqueous HCl is added to a solution containing a mixture of the
common cations, only Ag+, Pb2+, and Hg22+ will precipitate out as insoluble chlorides. All
other chlorides are soluble and remain in solution. The Group I precipitate is removed,
leaving the other ions in solution for treatment with sulfide ion (Zumdahl, : 777).

Group 2 cations. After the chloride precipitates have been removed by fi

ltration, hydrogen sulfi de is reacted with the unknown acidic solution. Under this
condition, the concentration of the S22 ion in solution is negligible. Therefore, the
precipitation of metal sulfi des is best represented as

Adding acid to the solution shifts

this equilibrium to the left so that only the least soluble metal sulfi des, that is, those
with the smallest Ksp values, will precipitate out of solution. These are Bi2S3, CdS, CuS,
HgS, and SnS (Chang, 2011 : 618).

(Zumdahl, : 777).

The ammonia gas is detected either by noting its characteristic odor or by

observing a piece of wet red litmu s paper turning blue when placed above (not in
contact with) the solution. To confi rm the presence of Na+ and K+ ions, we
usually use a flame test, as follows: A piece of platinum wire (chosen because
platinum is inert) is moistened with the solution and is then held over a Bunsen
burner flame. Each type of metal ion gives a characteristic color when heated in
this manner. For example, the color emitted by Na+ ions is yellow, that of K+ ions
is violet, and that of Cu2- ions is green (Chang, 2011: 619).