Systematic Procedure for Inorganic Qualitative Analysis

S. Experiment Observations Inference

No
.

Preliminary Tests

I Physical Examination Absence of

Cu2+,Ni2+,Fe2+,Fe3+,Co2+,Mn2+
i.Colour Colourless

2 ii.Appearance

Crystalline May be Cl-, Br-, NO3-, I-,

CH3COO except (NH4)2CO3

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

except (NH4)2CO3.
Take a pinch of salt in a test Soluble
tube, add few ml of water.

Action of Heat Sublimate formed:

4 Take a small amount of the A white sublimate is

given salt taken in a dry test formed on the walls of
tube, heat it gently; then the test tube. May be NH4+
strongly.

Flame Test:

5 To a small amount of the

given salt taken in a watch
glass, add a drop of Con. HCl No characteristic flame Absence of Cu2+, Br2+, Sr2+, Ca2+
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+, Mg2+,
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 Brisk effervescence of Anion is CO32-

given salt taken in a test tube colourless, odourless
add 1 or 2ml of dilute H2SO4 gas turning lime
water, milky is
obtained.

Concentrated H2SO4 Test: Colourless Presence of Cl-

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

Manganese dioxide test:

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

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

Ammonium molybdate test: No Characteristic

precipitate
12 Take a pinch of salt add 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: A colourless

pungent smelling
14 Heated a pinch of salt with gas which turns Presence of NH4+
Conc. NaOH moist red litmus
paper blue and
which gives dense
white fumes with a
glass rod dipped
in
Conc.HCl

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
1 Test)
To a few ml of the water
extract added AgNO3
A Curdy white Presence of Cl- is confirmed.
precipitate which is
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 confirmed
water, Yellow solution
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:

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

solution added dil.HCl precipitate
1

To a few ml of the original

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

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

added NH4Cl(aq) and NH4OH(aq) precipitate

4 To a few ml of original solution

added NH4Cl(aq) and NH4OH(aq)
and passed H2S gas. No characteristic Absence of group IV
precipitate
5 To a few ml of original solution A white precipitate Absence of group V
added NH4Cl(aq), NH4OH(aq)
and (NH4)2CO3 solution.

To a few ml of original solution A crystalline white Presence of group VI (Mg2+)

added NH4Cl(aq), NH4OH(aq) precipitate
6 and Na2HPO4.

Test for Zero group: [NH4+]

To a few ml of the original Reddish Brown Presence of NH4+ is confirmed.

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

CONFIRMATORY TEST FOR ZERO GROUP: [NH4+]

Test for Zero group: [NH4+]

To a few ml of the original Reddish Brown Presence of NH4+ is

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

Result:

The given simple salt contains

Anion: Cl-
Cation: NH4+
The simple salt is NH4Cl……….