Aim: To analyse one cation and one anion present in the given salt

Physical Analysis
❖ Physical State: Crystalline solid
❖ Colour: White
❖ Odour: odourless
❖ Solubility: Soluble in water

Analysis of Anion (Acid radical)

Experiment Observation Inference

Dilute H2SO4 Test: Take a pinch of salt in a No gas is evolved Carbonate (CO3-2),sulphite
test tube and add few drops of dilute (SO3-2) , sulphide (S-2)
sulphuric acid to it nitrite (NO2-) and acetate
(CH3COO -) are absent
Conc. H2SO4 Test: Take a pinch of salt in No gas is evolved Cl- , Br- , I- , NO3- , C2O4-2
a test tube and add few drops of conc. are absent.
sulphuric acid to it.

Test for sulphate (SO4-2) radical: Boil a A white ppt is formed which is SO4-2 is present
small amount of salt with dilute HCl in test insoluble in conc. HCl
tube , Filter the contents, and to the
filtrate add few drops of BaCl2 solution .

Lead acetate test for SO4-2 radical : To the A white ppt is formed which is SO4-2 is present
aqueous solution of the salt , add lead soluble in excess of hot
acetate solution ammonium acetate solution

Analysis of cation (Basic radical)

Experiment Observation Inference

Analysis of zero group: Take a pinch of salt No smell of NH3 is produced NH4+ is absent
in the test tube and add concentrated
NaOH solution and heat the content.

Analysis of first group: To the original No ppt. is formed First group is absent
solution of the salt , add dil. HCl

Analysis of Second group: Take about 1-2 No ppt is formed Second group is absent
ml of the original solution in a test tube ,
add dil HCl in it and warm the content and
pass H2S gas through it

Analysis of third group: Take about 1-2 ml White gelatinous ppt is formed Third group Al 3+ is
of the original solution in a test tube ,add present
1-2 ml of conc.HNO3 and boil the solution
for 2-3 minutes. Add 1 gm of solid NH4Cl
and excess of dil. NH4OH

Result : Acid radical (Anion ) : Sulphate (SO4-2)

 Basic radical (cation ) :Aluminium (Al3+)

So the salt is zinc sulphate (ZnSO4)

Reactions involved for acid radical

Barium chloride test

ZnSO4 + BaCl2 → BaSO4 (White ppt) + ZnCl2

BaSO4 + HNO3 → insoluble

Lead acetate test

ZnSO4 + Pb(CH3COO)2 → PbSO4 (White ppt) + (CH3COO)2Zn

Reaction s involved for basic radical

AlCl 3 + 3NaOH ⎯→ Al(OH) 3 + 3NaCl

Al(OH)3 + NaOH ⎯→ NaAlO 2 + 2H2O

White gelatinous Sodium

precipitate meta aluminate