Systematic Procedure for Inorganic Qualitative Analysis

S.No. Experiment Observations Inference

Preliminary Tests

I Physical Examination

i.Colour Colourless Absence of

Cu2+,Ni2+,Fe2+,Fe3+,Co2+,
Mn2+

2 ii.Appearance Crystalline May be Cl-, Br-, NO3-, I-,

CH3COO except
(NH4)2CO3

iii.Solubility

3 Take a pinch of salt in a test Soluble May be

tube, add few ml of water. Cl-,Br-,No3-,I-,CH3COO-,
except (NH4)2CO3.

Action of Heat

4 Take a small amount of the No characteristic Absence of

given salt taken in a dry test changes Zn2+,Co2+,Mn2+,Cu2,Pb2+
tube, heat it gently; then
strongly.

Flame Test:

5 To a small amount of the Crimson Red Presence of Sr2+

given 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 No characteristic ash Absence of Al3+, Zn2+,

 with Conc.HNO3 and a few Mg2+,
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 No Characteristic gas is Absence of S2-, CO32-

given salt taken in a test tube evolved
add 1 or 2ml of dilute H2SO4

Concentrated H2SO4 Test: Colourless pungent Presence of Cl-

smelling gas which
8 A pinch of the solid salt turns moist blue
heated with Conc.H2SO4 litmus red and
dense white fumes
with a glass rod
dipped in
NH4OH

Manganese dioxide test:

(MnO2)
9 Evolution of greenish Presence of Cl-
Heat a pinch of the salt with yellow gas having a
a small quantity of MnO2 and pungent irritating
Conc. H2SO4. smell.

Copper Turning Test:

10 Heat a pinch of salt with No Characteristic gas Absence of NO3-

Conc. H2SO4 and a few
copper turning

Chromyl Chloride Test: Reddish orange

11 Heated a pinch of the salt
with solid K2Cr2O7 along with
Conc. H2SO4
vapours evolved were
passed through water, Presence of Cl-
Yellow solution is
obtained. Yellow
solution turns to
precipitate on adding
Lead acetate

Ammonium molybdate test: No Characteristic

12 Take a pinch of salt add precipitate Absence of PO43-.
Conc.HNO3 and boil. Add
ammonium molybdate
solution in excess and again
boil

Ester Test: No Characteristic

odour
13 Take a small pinch of the salt Absence of CH3COO-
in 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: No Characteristic gas

14 Heated a pinch of salt with Absence of NH4+
Conc. NaOH

CONFIRMATORY TEST FOR ANION

Preparation of Water Extract:

A pinch of salt dissolved in water. This is called water extract.

Confirmatory test
for Cl-: (AgNO3 Test)
1 To a few ml of the water A Curdy white Presence of Cl- is
precipitate which is confirmed.
extract added AgNO3
soluble in excess of
solution.
NH4OH

2. Chromyl Chloride Test: Reddish orange

Heated a pinch of the salt
with solid K2Cr2O7 along
with Conc. H2SO4
vapours evolved
were passed through Presence of Cl- is
water, Yellow solution confirmed
is obtained. Yellow
solution turns to
precipitate on
adding Lead acetate

Analysis of cations: [Preparation of Original Solution]

Take a pinch of salt dissolves in few ml water. This is called Original solution.
Identification of Group Analysis:

1 To a few ml of the original No characteristic Absence of NH4+

solution added Nessler’s precipitate
reagent followed by excess of
NaOH

To a few ml of the original No white Absence of Group I

solution added dil.HCl precipitate
2

To a few ml of the original No black Absence of group II

solution added dil.HCl and precipitate.
3 passed H2S gas.

To a few ml of original solution No characteristic Absence of group III

added NH4Cl(aq) and NH4OH(aq) precipitate
4

5 To a few ml of original solution No characteristic Absence of group IV

added NH4Cl(aq) and NH4OH(aq) precipitate
and passed H2S gas.

6 To a few ml of original solution A white precipitate Presence of group V

added NH4Cl(aq), NH4OH(aq) (Ba2+/Ca2+/Sr2+)
and (NH4)2CO3 solution.

CONFIRMATORY TEST FOR GROUP V : (Sr2+)

1 To a few ml of original A White ppt Presence of Sr2+ is

solution added Ammonium confirmed
sulphate solution and
warm.
2 Flame Test :
To a small amount of the given Crimson red flame Presence of Sr2+ is
salt taken in a watch glass, add confirmed
a drop of Con. HCl and make it
into a paste. Introduce into
non- luminous part of the
flame using a charred match
stick
Result:

The given simple salt contains

Anion: Cl-
Cation: Sr+
The simple salt is SrCl……….