List of Common Anions (Acidic Radicals) for Salt Analysis

Group Anions

Group 1 CO32-, NO2–, SO32-, S2-

Group 2 Cl–, Br–, I–, CH3COO–, NO3–, C2O42-

Group 3 PO43-, SO42-

Preliminary Test for Anions

In salt analysis, preliminary tests for anions are conducted group-wise to find the anion of
the salt. After getting a positive preliminary test for an anion, a confirmatory test must be
conducted to confirm the presence of that anion in the salt.

Preliminary Test for Group 1 Anions

Experiment: Add a few drops of dilute H 2SO4 (sulfuric acid) to a small quantity of the salt in a
test tube (If nothing happens, move on to preliminary test for group 2 anions).

Anion Positive Result

Carbonate (CO32-) Colourless and odourless gas that turns limewater milky

Sulphite (SO32-) Colourless, pungent-smelling gas

Sulphide (S2-) Colourless gas which smells like rotten eggs

Nitrite (NO2–) Light brown gas having a pungent smell

Preliminary Test for Group 2 Anions

Experiment: Take a small chunk of the salt in a test tube and add a few drops of concentrated
H2SO4 (sulfuric acid) to it (If nothing happens, move on to preliminary test for group 2 anions).

Anion Positive Result

White, pungent-smelling fumes that intensify when a glass rod dipped in ammonium
Chloride (Cl–)
hydroxide is brought to the mouth of the test tube
 Bromide (Br–) Reddish-brown fumes

Iodide (I–) Violet fumes

Acetate
Pungent fumes that smell like vinegar
(CH3COO–)

Nitrate (NO3–) Brown fumes with a pungent smell

Oxalate (C2O4–) Bubbly effervescence of a combination of carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide gas

Preliminary Test for Group 3 Anions

The sulphate and phosphate ions (group 3 anions) do not have any preliminary tests. If no
positive preliminary tests are obtained for group 1 and group 2 anions, you can directly jump
to confirmatory tests for the sulphate and phosphate anions.

Confirmatory Test for Anions

*Note: Water extract of the salt can be prepared by dissolving a pinch of the inorganic salt in
a few drops of water.

Anion Confirmatory Test Positive Observation

Add magnesium sulphate (MgSO4) to

Carbonate (CO32-) Formation of a white precipitate.
the water extract of the salt

Formation of a white precipitate which

Add aqueous barium chloride (BaCl2) to
Sulphite (SO32-) disappears when diluting hydrochloric
the water extract
acid (HCl) is added.

(i) Add sodium nitroprusside to the

water extract (i) The solution turns purple or violet
Sulphide (S2-)
(ii) Add aqueous lead acetate to the (ii) Formation of a black precipitate
water extract

Boil a mixture of the water extract and

The solution develops a deep blue
Nitrite (NO2–) dilute H2SO4. Now add solid potassium
colour
iodide and starch solution to it
 Formation of a white precipitate which
Add silver nitrate (AgNO3) to the water
Chloride (Cl )–
is soluble in ammonium hydroxide
extract
(NH4OH)

Formation of a yellow precipitate

Bromide (Br–) Add silver nitrate to the water extract which is partially soluble in ammonium
hydroxide

Formation of a yellow precipitate

Iodide (I–) Add silver nitrate to the water extract
which is insoluble in NH4OH

Mix the water extract with iron (II)

sulphate solution (FeSO4) and add one Formation of a brown ring at the
Nitrate (NO3–)
drop of concentrated nitric acid (HNO3) junction of the acid and the solution.
along the side of the test tube.

Add concentrated H2SO4 and some Development of a fruity smell (due to

Acetate (CH3COO–)
ethanol to the salt. the formation of an ester)

Formation of a white precipitate that

Add acetic acid and calcium chloride to
Oxalate (C2O4 ) –
dissolves upon the addition of dilute
the water extract and boil the solution.
HNO3

Formation of a white precipitate which

Add aqueous barium chloride (BaCl2) to
Sulphate (SO42-) is insoluble in concentrated
the water extract
hydrochloric acid (HCl)

Add dilute nitric acid (HNO3) and

ammonium molybdate ((NH4)2MoO4) to Formation of a yellow, crystalline
Phosphate (PO43-)
the water extract and boil the resulting precipitate
solution.

Shortcut: Ammonium bromide (NH4Br) is the most common salt containing the bromide ion in
school laboratories. If you confirm the presence of bromide ions in the salt, you can
immediately try a confirmatory test for the ammonium cation (NH4+)