ST.
JOHN’S ENGLISH SCHOOL & JUNIOR COLLEGE
BESANT NAGAR, CHENNAI-90
CLASS: XII
S.No. Experiment
1 PRELIMINARY TEST
Colour & Appearance
Note the colour and its
appearance of the given
salt.
2 Smell / Odour Ammoniacal smell
Take a pinch of the salt Vinegar like smell
between your fingers and
rub with a drop of water
3 Action of heat
Take a little of the salt in
a dry test tube and heat
it.
SALT ANALYSIS
SUB: CHEMISTRY
Observation Inferences
Blue or Bluish green Presence of Cu2+ or Ni2+
Greenish Presence of Ni2+
Light pink, Presence of Mn2+
White May be due to the
Presence of Al3+ NH4+
Zn2+, Ba2+,Sr2+, Mg2+
Presence of NH4+ salt
Presence of acetate salt
Pungent smelling
gas gives dense
white fumes with a -
glass rod dipped in Presence of Cl
NH4OH
characteristic
Colourless gas with Presence of NH4+
pungent smell, gives
white fumes with a
glass rod dipped in
conc. HCI.
Blue becomes white May be the presence of
on heating. hydrated CuSO4
Reddish brown gas
turns starch paper Presence of Br–
orange yellow.
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 Reddish brown gas -
Presence of NO3
turns Ferrous
sulphate solution
black
The salt Presence of Pb (NO3)2
descrepitates
yellow when hot Presence of Zn+2
white when cold.
Brown when hot and Presence of Pb2+
yellow when cold.
A white salt May be CH3COO–
becomes black on
heating

4 Flame Test Crimson red Presence of Sr2+

Take a little of the given colored flame
salt in a watch glass and Apple green
make a paste with a few coloured flame after Presence of Ba2+
drops of conc. HCl. prolonged heating.
Introduce this paste to Bluish green flame. Presence of Cu2+
the non – luminous part Dull bluish white Presence of Pb2+
of the flame. flame
No characteristic Absence of Ca2+, Sr2+,
coloured flame Ba2+, Cu2+, Pb2+

5 Ash Test i) Green ash i) May be Zn2+

Take a Pinch of Salt and ii) Pink ash ii) May be Mg2+
add few drops of cobalt iii) Blue ash iii) May be AI3+
nitrate solution in a test
tube. Dip the filter paper
and burn it and observe
the colour of the ash.

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 DRY TEST
S.No. Experiment Observation Inference
1 A)To a Pinch of i) Colourless gas with pungent odour -
i) Presence of Cl
the salt Conc. giving out white fumes when glass rod
H2SO4 is added dipped in NH4OH is introduced to the
and warm if test tube.
necessary. Cl- + H2SO4  HSO4- + HCl
HCl + NH3 NH4Cl.
ii) Dark Red (or) Brown Presence of Br-
Colour gas
2Br- + 2H2SO4- Br2+ 2HSO4- + 2H2 O

-Reddish brown - gas May be NO3-

NO3-+H2SO4  HSO4-+NO2 + H2O
iii) No characteristic r x n Absence of CI-, Br-,
-
I , NO3-
B) To the above a) More brown fumes obtained i) Presence of Br- is
mixture MnO2 is confirmed.
added. and heat b) Greenish Yellow gas obtained -
ii) Presence of CI
it gently X + MnO2+ H2SO4 HSO4 +MnSO4 + X2
- -

[where X = CI, Br, I- ]

2 Copper Reddish brown fumes are evolved Presence of NO3-

Turning Test leaving behind green colour solution .
To the salt ‘Cu’ NO3- H2SO4 HNO3+HSO4-
turnings and Cu+ HNO3 Cu(NO3)2 + 2NO2+2H2O
Conc. H2SO4
are added and
No reddish brown fumes Absence of NO3-
heated
3 Chromyl -
Chloride Test Dark red vapours of chromyl chloride Presence of Cl

A small amount
Yellow solution formed gives yellow -
of salt is mixed Presence of CI
ppt with CH3COOH and Pb (CH3COO)2
with solid is confirmed.
K2 Cr2 O7 and -
Con. H2SO4 is No Red Orange vapours Absence of CI
added and
heated

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4 Ester Test Fruity smell of ester is obtained -
Presence of CH3COO
To a small - -
CH3COO + C2H5OH CH3 COO C2H5 + OH
amount of salt a
few drops of -
conc. H2SO4 is No fruity smell Absence of CH3COO
added. To the
above add 3-4
drops of Ethyl
alcohol and
warm it

WET TEST
Preparation of Na2CO3 Extract.
It is prepared in case of water insoluble salt. To a
small amount of the salt, twice the amount of Na2CO3 is added followed by
20-30ml of distilled water. The solution is boiled for 10-15 minutes, cooled
and filtered. This filtrate is known as Na2CO3 Extract. All wet tests are
performed using this extract
OR
Preparation of water Extract.
To a small amount of the salt add 25-30ml if water and shake well.
This solution is known as water extract. All web test are performed using
this extract
S.No Experiment Observation Inference
AgNO3 Test Curdy while ppt readily soluble in Presence of chloride is
1 One part of the excess of NH4OH is obtained. confirmed
extract is - -
Cl + AgNO3 NO3 + Agcl
neutralised with
dil HNO3 till the AgCl+2NH4OH [Ag(NH3)2Cl] + 2OH-
effervesence
stops. Then ii) light yellow ppt sparingly soluble in May be the presence of
a AgNO3
solution is
excess of NH4OH is obtained Br-
- -
added in excess Br + 2AgNO3  [Ag (NH3)2 Cl] + 2OH
-
Lake Test for Br -
2 i) a golden yellow lake is obtained.
Acidify the Presence of Br is
2. MBr + Cl22 MCl + Br2
extract with dil confirmed
Br2 being soluble in CCl4
HCl & add 1-2ml
of CS2 and then
add chlorine
water shake &
allow to stand

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3 BaCl2 Test Thick white ppt insoluble in conc HCl Presence of SO4-2
The extract is is obtained.
neutralised with
dil HCl till -
SO-24 + BaCl2 BaSO4 + 2Cl
effervescence
stops and then
add Bacl2
No white ppt
solution Absence of SO4-2
4 Pb (CH3COO)2 Thick white ppt soluble in hot Presence of SO4-2
Test CH3COONH4. is confirmed
Acidify the
extract with
CH3COOH and
then add Pb
(CH3COO)2
Solution

5 Brown Ring Test :

To the extract dil Brown ring is obtained at the junction -
H2SO4 is added of the two layers. Presence of NO3
till offervescene is confirmed
stops and then
freshly prepared
FeSO4 solution is
added and
Con.H2SO4 is
added on the
walls of the test
tube.
NO-3 + H2SO4 + HNO3
6FeSO4 + 3H2SO4+2HNO33Fe2(SO4)3 + 4H2O + 2NO.
FeSO4+NO+H2O[Fe(NO)(H2O)5] SO4.(Brown Ring)

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 6 FeCl3Test
To the extract Red Colouration is obtained Presence of acetate
small amount is confirmed.
of FeCl3 is
added and -
shake well. 3CH3COO + FeCl3  Fe(CH3COO)3
Divide into +3Cl-
two parts
a) To one part a) Red Colour disappears -
Presence of CH3COO
Conc. HCI is is confirmed.
added
b) to another b) Red ppt is formed
part distilled
water is No red Colouration -
Absence of CH3COO
added and
heated.

SYSTEMATIC ANALYSIS OF CATIONS

Form in which cations
Group Group reagent Cations
are precipitated
Zero - NH4+
I Dilute HCl Pb2+ Chlorides
II H2 S in presence of dil. HCl Hg2+,Cd2+, Cu2+,As2+ Sulphides
III NH4OH in the presence Fe2+, Fe3+, AI3+ Hydroxides
of NH4 Cl
IV H2S in presence of NH4OH, Ni2+,Mn2+, Zn2+, Co2+ Sulphides
NH4Cl
V (NH4)2CO3 in presence of Ca2+, Ba2+, Sr2+ Carbonates
NH4OH
VI ---- Mg2+ ---

ANALYSIS OF CATIONS
Preparation of Original Solution:
Dissolve about 2 grams of the given salt in dissolved water. This solution
is called as original solution & is used in the following tests.

Group Zero NH4+

1) 1) To a little of the A Reddish brown ppt is obtained Presence of NH4+
original solution add NH4Cl+NaOHNaCI+H2O+NH3
Nessler’s reagent 2K2HgI4+NH3+3KOHH2N. Hgo.Hgl+7KI+2H2O
[K2(HgI4)] and NaOH (Brown ppt) Brown ppt
solution
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2) 2) to the original salt A pungent smelling gas Presence of NH4+
solution add slaked turns wet red litmus blue
lime & boiled the
contents 2NH4X+Ca(OH)2CaX2+ 2NH4OH

Group I
To a little of the original A white ppt is obtained Presence of group I
solution add dil. HCI cation (Pb2+)
Pb A2+2HCI PbCI2+2HA
White
No white ppt Absence of group I cation
Confirmatory Tests for Pb2+
1) Potassium Chromate
Test Yellow ppt soluble in acetic Presence of Pb2+
To a little of the original acid is obtained is confirmed.
solution add potassium Pb A2+K2CrO4PbCrO4+KA
chromate solution. Yellow

2) Potassium Iodide Test Yellow ppt. dissolves on boiling Confirms the

To a little of the original and reappears as golden presence of Pb2+
solution, add KI solution yellow spangles on cooling. is confirmed.
boil it, cool it under Pb A2 + 2 KI PbI2+ 2KCI
running water.

Group II
To a little of the original M2+ H2SMS+ 2H+ May be the presence of
solution, add a few drops A black ppt is obtained Cu2+
of dil. HCI and pass H2S
gas (Yellow ammonium CuA2+ H2S2HA + Cus
Sulphide) (Black)
No characteristic ppt it Absence of Cu2+
obtained
Confirmatory Tests for
Cu2+
1) To a little of the A pale blue precipitate Presence Cu2+
original solution add in dissolves in excess of is confirmed.
drops to excess NH4 OH NH4OH to form blue
coloured solution
2+
Cu2++4NH4OH2[Cu(NH3)4] +4H2O

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2) Potassium Ferro A chocolate brown ppt Presence of Cu2+
Cyanide Test is formed. is confirmed.
To a little of the original 2CuSO4+K4[Fe(CN)6]Cu2[Fe(CN)6]+2K2SO4
solution add K4 [Fe(CN)6]
solution.

3) potassium iodide test A white ppt is formed in Presence of Cu2+

To a little of the original brown coloured solution is confirmed
solution add KI solution
2CuSO4+KICu2I2+I2+2K2SO4
White ppt. Brown ppt.

Group III

To a little of the original AlCl3+3NH4OH3NH4Cl+ Al(OH)3 

salt solution add a few (White)
ml of NH4CI followed by
NH4OH in excess No characteristic ppt is Absence of group III
obtained cations

Confirmatory test for AI3+

Lake Test
To a little of the original
salt solution add blue
litmus solution followed
by NH4OH dropwise
Blue ppt floating in the Presence of AI3+
colourless solution
AlCl3+3NH4OH 3NH4Cl+Al(OH)3
Blue colour absorbs on this ppt.

Group IV
To a little of the original
solution add a few drops
of NH4CI & NH4OH and
then pass H2S gas
(yellow ammonium
sulphide)
M2+H2SMS+2H+ Presence of NI2+
Black ppt
Ni(OH)2+H2S2H2O+Ni S
Black ppt
A dirty white ppt is obtained Presence of Zn2+
Zn(OH)2 + H2S2H2O+ZnS (white)

A flesh coloured ppt Presence of Mn2+

is obtained
No characteristic coloured ppt Absence of Ni2+, Zn2+
is obtained and Mn2+

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 Confirmatory tests for Ni2+

1) To a little of the Bright rose red ppt is Presence of Ni2+ is

original solution add. confirmed
NH4CI NH4OH and
dimethyl glyoxime

2) To a little of the A green ppt is Presence of Ni2+ is confirmed

original solution add obtained
NaOH in excess.
NiX2+2NaOH2NaX+Ni(OH)2
green

Confirmatory tests for Zn2+

1) to a little of the original
salt solution add a few
drops of NaOH.
A white ppt soluble in Presence of Zn2+
excess of NaOH
ZnCl2+2NaOH 2Zn(OH)2 + 2NaCl
white ppt
Zn(OH)2+2NaOHNa2[Zn(OH)4]+2H2O soluble

2) To a little of the original White ppt is obtained Presence of zn2+

salt solution add a few ml of
potassium ferrocyanide. 2ZnCl+K4[Fe(CN)6  Zn2[Fe(CN)6] + 4KCl
[K4Fe(CN)6]
White ppt.

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 Confirmatory tests for Mn2+
1) To a little of the original salt A brown ppt is Presence of Mn2+
solution add excess of NaOH obtained
solution
MnCl2+2NaOHMn(OH)2+2NaCl
2) to a little of the original Pink coloured Presence of Mn2+
solution add PbO2 and con. solution
HNO3 & boil the contents.

Group V
To a little of the original
Solution, add NH4Cl, NH4OH
and (NH4)2CO3 solution in
excess.
A thick white ppt is Presence of group V
obtained Cations Ba2+ and Sr2+
MCl2+(NH4)2 CO3MCO3+ 2NH4Cl
M2+ + (NH4)2 CO3  MCO3+ 2NH4

No white ppt is obtained Absence of V group

cations.

Confirmatory tests for Ba2+

1) To a little of the original salt Yellow ppt is Presence of Ba2+
solution add postassium obtained
chromate (K2CrO4) solution.
BaX2+K2CrO42KX+BaCrO4
(Yellow ppt )

2) Flame test Apple green coloured Presence of Ba2+

To a little of the given salt, add flame
a few drops of conc. HCI &
make a paste. Perform flame
test.

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 Confirmatory tests for strontium(Sr2+)
1) To a little of the original salt A white ppt isobtained Presence of Sr2+
solution add (NH4)2SO4& warm SrX +(NH ) SO 2NH X+ SrSO 
2 4 2 4 4 4
it.

2) Flame test Crimson red Presence of Sr2+

To a little of the given salt add coloured flame
a few drops of conc. HCI &
make a paste .perform flame
test.

Group VI
Confirmatory tests for Magnesium
1) To little of the original salt A white ppt is obtained Presence of Mg2+
solution add NH4OH till
alkaline and then add excess
of Na2HPO4 (or) (NH4)3 PO4 M2+Na2HPO4+NH4OHMg(NH4)PO4+2Na++H2O
and scratch the sides of the MgCI2+ NH4OH+(NH4)2 HPO4
test tube with a glass rod. 
Mg(NH4)PO4+2NH4CI+H2O

2) To a little of the original salt Sky blue coloured ppt. Presence of Mg2+
solution add magneson is formed
reagent and NaOH in excess.

Result:
i) The Given Anion is ______________
ii) The Given Cation is _____________
iii) The Given Salt is _______________

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