CY 102: Inorganic chemistry practical

Course Instructor: Dr. SAMYA BANERJEE

Reference Book - Vogel's Qualitative Inorganic Analysis

Group 2 cations react with H2S in 0.1 to 0.3 M hydrochloric
acid solution to form insoluble sulfides, namely HgS, PbS, Bi2S3,
CuS, CdS, As2S3, SnS, and Sb2S3. The first five cations (Hg2+,
Pb2+, Bi3+, Cu2+, Cd2+) belong to the copper subgroup. Their
sulfides are not acidic and thus are insoluble in KOH solution.

If it forms a reddish-brown or black precipitate then Bi3+, Cu2+,

Hg2+ or Pb2+ is present.

If it forms a yellow precipitate, then Cd2+ is present

If it forms a brown precipitate, then Sn2+ must be present

If a red orange precipitate is formed, then Sb3+ is present.

Why acidic medium?
 Test of Group IIA cations

Hg2+ + 2 KI (in excess) → HgI2 + 2 K+ 2 Hg2+ + SnCl2 → 2 Hg + SnCl4 (white precipitate turns gray)
Test of Group IIA cations
Test of Group IIB cations
Test of Group IIB cations
Brown ring test

A common nitrate test, known as the brown ring test can be

performed by adding iron(II) sulfate to a solution of a nitrate,
then slowly adding concentrated sulfuric acid such that the acid
forms a layer below the aqueous solution. A brown ring will
form at the junction of the two layers, indicating the presence of
the nitrate ion. Note that the presence of nitrite ions will
interfere with this test.
The overall reaction is the reduction of the nitrate ion to nitric
oxide by iron(II), which is oxidised to iron(III), followed by the
formation of a nitrosyl complex between the nitric oxide and the
remaining iron(II), where nitric oxide is reduced to NO−.

2HNO3 + 3H2SO4 + 6FeSO4 → 3Fe2(SO4)3 + 2NO + 4H2O

[Fe(H2O)6]SO4 + NO → [Fe(H2O)5(NO)]SO4 + H2O