SYSTEMATIC ANALYSIS OF SIMPLE SALTS
ANALYSIS OF ACID RADICALS (ANIONS)
No. Experiment
IDENTIFICATION TESTS
1. Test with dil. Hydrochloric acid (HCl):
A little of the salt is added to dil. HCl taken evolved which turns lime water
in a test tube.
2. Test with dil. Sulphuric acid (H2SO4):
A little of the salt is rubbed with Dil. H2SO4
in a watch glass and the smell is noted.
3. Test with Conc. H2SO4:
A little of the salt is treated with conc.
H2SO4 taken in a test tube.
4. Paper ball test: A little of the salt is heated Reddish brown vapours are
with Conc. H2SO4 and a paper ball is added evolved.
to it.
5. Test with Barium chloride (BaCl2): To a
little of the salt solution add BaCl2 solution. excess of dil. HCl.
CONFIRMATORY TESTS FOR ANIONS
1. Carbonate (CO32-): A little of the salt
solution is treated with BaCl2 solution.
2. Acetate (CH3COO-): To a little of the salt
solution a few drops of neutral ferric
chloride (FeCl3) is added.
3. Chloride (Cl-): A little of the salt solution is
acidified with dil. Nitric acid (HNO3) and
Silver nitrate (AgNO3) solution is added.
4. Nitrate (NO3-)[ Brown ring test]: To a little
of the salt solution freshly prepared
Ferrous sulphate (FeSO4) solution is added
and mixed well. A few drops of Conc. H2SO4
is added through the sides of the test tube.
5. Sulphate (SO42-): Acetic acid and lead
acetate are added to the salt solution.
ANALYSIS OF BASIC RADICALS (CATIONS)
1. A little of the salt solution is treated with
sodium carbonate (Na2CO3) solution.
2. To a little of the salt solution add dil. HCl
3. To a little of the salt solution add dil. HCl
and then pass hydrogen sulphide (H2S) gas.
4. To a little of the salt solution add
ammonium chloride (NH4Cl) and
ammonium hydroxide (NH4OH) solutions.
5. To a little of the salt solution add NH4Cl and
NH4OH solutions and then pass H2S gas.
Observation Inference
A colourless, odourless gas is Presence of carbonate (CO32-)
milky.
[No characteristic reaction] [Absence of carbonate]
Smell of vinegar Presence of acetate (CH3COO-)
A colourless gas fuming in
moist air is evolved. Dense
white fumes are formed when
a glass rod dipped in Presence of chloride (Cl-)
ammonium hydroxide (NH4OH)
is shown at the mouth of the
test tube.
Presence of nitrate (NO3-)
A white precipitate insoluble in
Presence of sulphate (SO42-)
A white precipitate is formed
Presence of carbonate
which is soluble in dil. HCl with
confirmed.
the evolution of CO2.
Presence of acetate
A reddish brown colouration
confirmed.
A white precipitate readily Presence of chloride
soluble in NH4OH is formed confirmed.
A brown ring is formed at the
Presence of nitrate confirmed.
junction of the two liquids.
A white precipitate soluble in Presence of sulphate
ammonium acetate is formed. confirmed.
No precipitate Presence of zero group cation
(NH4+).
Presence of Group I cation
White precipitate.
(Pb2+).
Presence of Group II cation
Black precipitate.
(Cu2+).
Presence of Group III cation
White gelatinous precipitate
(Al3+).
Presence of Group IV cation
White precipitate.
(Zn2+).
6. To a little of the salt solution add NH4Cl,
Presence of Group V cations
NH4OH and ammonium carbonate White precipitate.
(Ba2+ & Ca2+).
[(NH4)2CO3] solutions.
7. To a little of the salt solution add NH4Cl,
Presence of Group VI cation
NH4OH and disodium hydrogen phosphate White crystalline precipitate.
(Mg2+).
(Na2HPO4).
ANALYSIS OF ZERO GROUP (NH4+)
1. A little of the salt is boiled with sodium A colourless pungent smelling
hydroxide (NaOH) solution. gas is evolved. Dense white
fumes are formed when a glass Presence of ammonium (NH4+)
rod dipped in Conc. HCl is
shown into it.
2. To a little of the salt solution Nessler’s A reddish brown precipitate is Presence of ammonium
reagent is added. formed. confirmed.
ANALYSIS OF GROUP I (Pb2+)
1. To a little of the salt solution add A golden yellow precipitate is
potassium iodide (KI) solution. formed which is soluble in hot
Presence of lead (Pb2+)
water and crystallised as
golden spangles on cooling.
2. To a little of the salt solution add dil. Acetic
acid (CH3COOH) and potassium chromate Yellow precipitate is formed. Presence of lead confirmed.
(K2CrO4).
ANALYSIS OF GROUP III (Al3+)
1. A little of the salt solution is treated with A white gelatinous precipitate
Presence of Aluminium (Al3+)
NaOH solution. soluble in excess NaOH
2. Ash Test: A little of the salt is boiled with 1
mL each of Conc. HNO3 and cobalt nitrate Presence of aluminium
Blue ash
[Co(NO3)2] solution. A filter paper dipped in confirmed.
this solution is dried and burnt.
ANALYSIS OF GROUP IV (Zn2+)
1. To a little of the salt solution NaOH is A white ppt soluble in excess
Presence of Zinc (Zn2+)
added drop wise. NaOH
2. Ash Test: A little of the salt is boiled with 1
mL each of Conc. HNO3 and cobalt nitrate Presence of Zinc (Zn2+)
Green ash
[Co(NO3)2] solution. A filter paper dipped in confirmed.
this solution is dried and burnt.
ANALYSIS OF GROUP V (Ba2+ & Ca2+)
1. To the salt solution dil. Acetic acid
An yellow ppt Presence of Barium(Ba2+)
(CH3COOH) and potassium chromate
[An yellow colouration] [Presence of Calcium (Ca2+)]
(K2CrO4) solutions are added.
2. Flame Test: A little of the salt is made into Grassy Green colour Presence of Ba2+ confirmed.
a paste with Conc. HCl and shown into a
non-luminous flame. [Brick red colour] [Presence of Ca2+ confirmed.]

ANALYSIS OF GROUP VI (Mg2+)

1. To a little of the salt solution Magneson Lake blue ppt which is soluble Presence of Magnesium
reagent is added. in excess of NaOH to form deep (Mg2+)
blue solution.
2. Ash Test A little of the salt is boiled with 1
Presence of Magnesium
mL each of Conc. HNO3 and cobalt nitrate
Pink ash (Mg2+) confirmed.
[Co(NO3)2] solution. A filter paper dipped in
this solution is dried and burnt..
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