Systematic Procedure for Inorganic Qualitative Analysis

S.N Experiment Observations Inference

o
Preliminary Tests

I Physical Examination Absence of

1.Colour Colourless Cu2+,Ni2+,Fe2+,Fe3+,Co2+,Mn2+
2 2.Apperance Crystalline May be Cl-,Br-,No3-,I-,CH3COO -,
except( NH4)2Co3

3 3.Solubility May be Cl-,Br-,No3-,I-,CH3COO

-
Take a pinch of salt in a test Soluble ,except ( NH4)2Co3.
tube, add few ml of water.

4.Action of Heat
4 Take a small amount of the Gas evolution:
given salt taken in a dry test Reddish brown Reddish brown vapours.
tube, heat it gently; then vapours.
strongly.
Flame Test :
5 To a small amount of the given No characteristic flame Absence of Cu2+,Br2+,Sr2+,Ca2+
salt taken in a watch glass, add
a drop of Con. HCl and make it
into a paste. Introduce into
non-luminous part of the flame
using a charred match stick.
Ash Test:
6 A pinch of the salt is mixed Blue Ash Presence of Al3+
with Conc.HNO3 and a few
drops Co (NO3)2. A filter paper is
dipped in the above mixture
and ignited.
Identification of Anions (Acid Radicals)
Action of dilute H2SO4:
7 To a small portion of the given No Characteristic gas is Absence of S2-, CO3 2-
salt taken in a test tube add 1 evolved.
or 2ml of dilute H2SO4
Concentrated H2SO4 Test:
8 A pinch of the solid salt heated Reddish brown vapour Presence of NO3-
with Conc.H2SO4
Maganese dioxide test:(MnO2)
9 Heat a pinch of the salt with a No Characteristic gas Absence of Cl-, Br -, I-
small quantity of MnO2 and
Conc. H2SO4.
 Copper Turning Test:
10 Heat a pinch of salt with Conc. Reddish brown gases of Presence of NO3-
H2SO4 and a few copper turning nitrogen dioxide are
evolved
Chromyl Chloride Test:
11 Heated a pinch of the salt with No Characteristic gas Absence of Cl-
solid K2Cr2O7 along with Conc.
H2SO4
Ammonium molybdate test:
12 Take a pinch of salt add No Characteristic ppt Absence of PO43-.
Conc.HNO3 and boil. Add
ammonium molybdate solution
in excess and again boil
Ester Test:
13 Take a small pinch of the salt in No Characteristic odour Absence of CH3COO-
a test-tube. Add few ml Conc.
H2SO4  and heat. Now ethyl
alcohol (1 ml). Shake. Pour the
contents of the tube in a beaker
full of water. Stir.
Action of NaOH:
14 Heated a pinch of salt with No Characteristic gas Absence of NH4+
Conc.solution of NaOH
CONFIRMATORY TEST FOR ANION
Preparation of Sodium Extract:
Take 1 tablespoon full of salt in a boiling tube. Mix about 2 tablespoon full of
solid sodium carbonate and add 15 mL of distilled water to it. Stir and boil the content for about 10
minutes. Afterwards solution was cooled and filtered using a filter paper.A colorless filtrate was
obtained.
Confirmatory test for NO3-:
1 (Brown Ring test): Add a few A Brown ring is formed at Presence of NO3- is
ml of freshly prepared solution the junction of the two confirmed.
of ferrous sulphate to a few ml liquids.
of water extract / sodium
extract and added
Conc.H2SO4 slowly along the
sides of the test tube

Analysis of cations: [ Preparation of Original Solution]

Take a pinch of salt dissolves in few ml water.This is called Original solution.
Note: If the salt is insoluble and is a carbonate in the above statement H 2O to be prepared by dil.HCl.
Identification of Group Analysis:
To a few ml of the original solution No characteristic ppt Absence of Group I
1 added dil.HCl

To a few ml of the original solution

 2 added dil.HCl and passed H2S No black ppt. Absence of group II
gas.

3 To a few ml of original solution Gelatinous white ppt Presence of group

added NH4Cl(aq) and NH4OH(aq) III(Al3+)

CONFIRMATORY TEST FOR GROUP III : (Al 3+)

To a few ml of original solution (i) Gelatinous white ppt Presence of Al3+ is

1. added NaOH solution. soluble in excess of NaOH confirmed.

To a few ml of original solution (ii) A red lake was obtained. Presence of Al3+ is
2. added few drops of aluminon confirmed
reagent ( triammonium salt of
aurintricarboxylic acid) stirred well
and added NaOH in drops.
Result:

The given simple salt contains

Anion: NO3-

Cation: Al3+

The simple salt is : Al(NO3)3……….