QUALITATIVE INORGANIC ANALYSIS
I PHYSICAL EXAMINATION OF THE SALT
EXPERIMENT OBSERVATION INFERENCE
f 1. Colour and appearance Blue or bluish green Cu 2+or Ni 2•
of salt is noted
Greenish Ni 2+
Light green
Fe2 +
Dark brown
Fe3+
Pink violet
Co2•
Light pink, flesh colour or dull
earthy colour
Mn2+
Colourless
Absence of Cu 2• , Ni 2•, Fe2•,
Fe3+, Co2•
J
2. Odour test is conducted. Ammoniacal smell NH/
Take a pinch of salt I
between the fingers and Vinegar like smell (J CH3Coo-
rub with a drop of water.
Smell of rotten eggs 5 2-
3. Flame Test: Dip a glass rod Brick red (not persistent) ✓ Ca2• might be present
in conc.HCI and dip the
same in a small quantity Crimson red (persistent) ~r2• might be present
of the given salt. Persistent grassy-green (appears "- Ba 2• might be present
Introduce this to the after prolonged heating)
non-luminous Bunsen
flame Bright bluish green cu2• might be present
Green flashes Mn2• might be present
Light blue flashes Zn2• might be present
Dull bluish white Pb 2+ might be present
No characteristic flame Absence of Ca2• , Sr2•, Ba2• ,
colouration is observed Cu2+, M n2+ , Zn 2+ , Pb2+
(Or) presence of NH4+, Al3+,
Mg2+
II ANION ANALYSIS A.
ANIONS·
PRELIMINARAY TESTS FOR
INFERANCE
EXPERIMENT OBSERVATION
oi·)
Pre sen ce of ca rbo na te (C
" 1. A pin ch of the sal t in
a tes t Colourless, od ou rle ss ga s
of wi th brisk effervescence,
tub e is tre ate d wi th 1-2 ml
dil ute hydrochloric acicy" tur ns lime wa ter milky.
l-11_ Jo t Ab sen ce of ca rbo na te
No characteristic gas
evo lut ion
t Pre sen ce of chloride
t tub e Colourless gas wi th pu ng en
() ) A pinch of sal t in a tes es
~ is WA M1 ed wi th cone. sm ell is evolved which giv
es wh en a
sul ph uri c acid. de nse wh ite fum
glass rod dip ped in
am mo niu m hydroxide is
sho wn at the mo uth of the
tes t tub e
th Pre sen ce of bro mi de
-R'e.qpish bro wn vap ou rs wi
pu ng en ~mell, tur ns sta rch
pa pe r yel~ ~s no t
tur n FeS04 soluti<Hfl>lac_k.
Pre sen ce of Iodide
Dl !e ~iolet vap ou rs with
pungent..smell, tur ns starch
pa pe r blu ~ ' s ~ate
is
formed on the sid es of-t he
tube.
Pre sen ce of nit rat e
'Redd ish brown gas with
~~
pu ng en t smell, tur ns FeS04
of
/ sol ution black. Evolution
of
brown fumes on addition
pa pe r ball ' ,
r Pre sen ce of ace tat e
~o udesl_vapours, vinega
-J smell, tur ns blue-litmus
i--No characteristic ga s or
red
-----
.
Absence of c1·, er· , 1·, N0
CH3Coo·
3· ,
~ ou r evolution is ob ser ved
Su lph ate or ph osp ha te is
" sus pec ted .
Pre sen ce of Su lph ate or
White pp t
ph osp ha te
Absence of Su lph ate or
. No wh ite pre cip ita te ph osp ha te
ution
3. Sa lt solution+BaC'2sol
I B. CONFIRMATORY TESTS FOR ANIONS:
cirb ona tes {COl·} -.:i :'-< n ~ c • " J..(; ur1
,l
1
J
1
~
EXPERIMENT OBSERVATION INFERENCE
1. A pinch of the salt in a Brisk effervescence of CO2 Presence of soluble carbonate
test tube is trea ted which turn s lime wat er milky. is con firm ed
with 1-2 ml of dilu te
hyd roch loric acid
Presence of soluble carbonate
~ one port ion of the Formation of whit e precipitate
salt solu tion add in the solution is confirmed
ff"?'"'"'2"'::m
magnesium sulphate
solu tion + amm oniu m
hyd roxi de
~ orlde {Cl·]
OBSERVATION INFERENCE
EXPERIMENT
A whit e precipitate is fo~ ed Presence of chloride is
ty Acidify a portion of the er'(
-
1
h" h
w 1c 1s· soI u bl e ·
in mm _, • m
oniu confirmed
aqueous solu tion with
dil.N itric acid and add silver hydroxide '
nitra te solu tion . f''..:,0 1\ .
~1:, wl
!~O I t
A yellow precipitate is obtained Presence of chloride con firm ed
2. Chromyl chloride test. To a
mix ture of the salt and solid
potassium dich rom ate, add
cone. Sulphuric acid heat and
pass the red vapours through
NaOH solu tion . To the yello w
.
solu tion thus obtained, add
dil.acetic acid and lead acet ate
solution.
Bromide (er·1
OBSERVATION INFERENCE
EXPERIMENT
A ligh t yello w precipitate is Presence of brom ide is
1. Acidify a port ion of the confirmed
aqueous solution with obtained which is part ially
dil.n itric acid, boil , cool soluble in NH4OH
and silve r nitra te
solu tion
Evolution of yellowish brow n Presence of Bromide is
2. Heat a small qua ntity of con firm ed
the salt with solid vapours o( bromine which turn
MnO2 and cone. Sulphuric starch paper yell ow
acid
Iodide 0-1
EXPERIMENT OBSERVATION INFERENCE
1 · Acidify a portion of the
A yellow precipitate is formed Presence of Iodide is confirmed
aqueous solution with which is insoluble in NH40H
dil.Nitric acid, boil, cool
and add silver nitrate
solution
2. Heat a small quantity of Evolution of violet vapours of Presence of iodide is confirmed
the salt with solid Mn02 iodine which turns starch paper
and cone.Sulphuric acid blue
I
EXPERIMENT OBSERVATION INFERENCE
1. Heat a small quantity of Dark brown fumes of nitrogen Presence of Nitrate is
the salt with cone. peroxide are evolved confirmed
Sulphuric acid and a few
copper chips.
2. Brown ring test: Add a A dark brown ring is formed at Presence of nitrate is confirmed
small quantity of freshly the junction of the layers of the
prepared solution of acid and the solution
ferrous sulphate to a
part of the aqueous salt
solution and then pour
cone.sulphuric acid
slowly along the sides
of the test tube.
/
A cetate {CH3Coo-1
V EXPERIMENT OBSERVATION INFERENCE
1. Take a small quantity of Pleasant fruity smell of ester. Presence of acetate is
the salt in a test tube . confirmed.
Add cone. Sulphuric acid
and heat. Now add a
few drops of ethanol
and shake. Pour the
contents of the test
tube in a beaker half-
filled with water and
stir.
Smell like that of vinegar Presence of acetate is
2. Prepare a paste of the
confirmed
salt with a pinch of
oxalic acid and a few
drops of water in a
watch glass. Rub the
paste and smell
~Dh ate( S 04 2 -,
- EXPERIMENT
OBSERVATION -
C)oa part of the aqueous A white precipita te is formed
INFERENCE
Presence of sulphate is
solution of salt and which is insoluble in dil.HCI confirmed
barium chloride
solution
2. To a part of a aqueou s A white precipita te is formed Presence of sulphate is
solution of salt add lead which is soluble in excess of confirmed.
acetate solution . hot ammoni um acetate
I solution .
111. CATI ON ANAL YSIS
PRELI MINAR Y TEST FOR CATIO NS:
OBSERVATION INFERENCE
SL.NQ . EXPER IMENT
Absence of group zero
y A pinch of salt+ dil. NaOH
and heat, show a moist red
litmus paper at the mouth
No characte ristic gas
evolutio n.
(NH/ )
/
Evolutio n of a colourless gas
of the test tube Presence of group zero
with the smell of ammoni a,
red litmus paper turns blue. (NH4+)
2
Absence of group I (Pb +)
No characte ristic ppt ✓
Salt solution in water+ 2
2. Presence of Group I (Pb +)
dil.HCI 2
White ppt Absence of Group II (Cu +) ,L
No characte ristic ppt \
2
salt solution in water+ presence of Group II (Cu •)
3. dil.HCl+ ammon ium Black ppt.
sulphid e solution Absence of Group Ill (Al3+) '--'
No characte ristic ppt
presence of Group Ill (Al3+)
salt solution +solid . -
4. ammon ium chloride , boil White gelatino us ppt
and cool+ex cess Absence of Group IV (Zn2+ ,
ammon ium hydroxi de No characte ristic ppt Niz+ ' coz+ ' Mn2+) 'f-_-
salt solution +solid presence of zn2+
• M 2+
s. ammon ium chloride , boil OirtY white ppt presence of n
f C 2+ or Ni2+
and cool+ex cess Flesh coloure d ppt presence o o -
mmoni um hydroxi de+3 Black ppt
a •
drops of ammon ium
sulphid e
- -· , ' 0
() -
Sa lt solution+solid No characteristic ppt. Absence of Group V
boil (Ba2•,ea2+, Srl+)
am m on iu m chloride,
an d cool+ex ce ss Mg2+ might be pres&l
am m on iu m
3 soln. White pp t Presence of Group V
hydroxide+(NH4)2 C0
(Ba2•,ea • , sr2•)
2
FIRMATORY TESTS FOR CATIONS:
CON
~ r N H4 +
OBSERVATION INFERENCE
SI.No. EXPERIMENT
ite
A pinch of salt+dil.NaO
H Formation of de ns e wh NH4+ IS Confirmed
1.
a gla ss fu me s of ammonium
an d he at , sh ow
CI at chloride
ro d dipped in conc.H
th e m ou th of th e te st
tu be
s Reddish brown pp t NH4+ IS Confirmed
Salt so lu tio n+ Nessler'
~ re ag en t
- -- -
✓o:;:b2+ INFERENCE
EXPERIMENT OBSERVATION
SI.No. di de Pb2 + is confirmed
lu tio n ye llo w pp t of le ad io
1. Sa lt so lu tio n + Kl so
ss iu m Yellow pp t of le ad Pb2 + is confirmed
2. Sa lt so lu tio n + po ta
ch ro m at e
ch ro m at e so lu tio n
For Cu2 + INFERENCE
EXPERIMENT OBSERVATION
SI.No. De ep bl ue so lu tio n cu2+ is confirmed
ss of
1. Sa lt so lu tio n + ex ce
am m on iu m hy dr ox id e
so lu tio n
j
2.
Acidify the above deep Chocolate brown ppt.
blue solution with Cu 2+ is confirmed
dil.acetic acid and add
potassium ferrocyanide
solution
~
✓·for Al 3+
SI.No. EXPERIMENT OBSERVATION INFERENCE
:9 Salt solution + dil HCI+ a
few drops of blue litmus
solution+ammoniu m
A blue lake formation
Al3+ is confirmed
hydroxide solution in
excess
2. Salt solution+ cone.Nitric Blue ash formation
acid+cobalt nitrate Al3+ is confirmed
solution dip a filter paper
in the solution and show
it to the Bunsen flame
For Zn 2+
SI.No. EXPERIMENT OBSERVATION INFERENCE
1. Salt solution+sodium White ppt is formed and it
hydroxide solution (drop dissolves in excess NaOH
Zn 2+ is confirmed
wise addition)
2. Salt solution + potassium White/ bluish white ppt
ferrocyanide solution
Zn 2+ is confirmed
For Mn 2+
SI.No. EXPERIMENT OBSERVATION INFERENCE
1. Salt solution+ NaOH White ppt that turns dark
solution, shake with bromine water Mn 2 + is confirmed
p'1' Q.q oJ-vu BCIJ.D u.,
/ l .~--
2.
To the dark ppt add few
Pink coloured solution
drops of cone.Nitric Mn 2+ is confirmed
acid+lead peroxide, boil,
cool and allow to settle
For Co 2+
SI.No. EXPERIMENT OBSERVATION INFERENCE
1. Salt solution+ acetic acid+ Yellow ppt
a crystal of potassium Co 2+ is confirmed
nitrate and warm
2. Salt solution +O.Sml Blue colour in ether layer
Co2+ is confirmed
ether+ one crystal of
ammonium thiocyanate
and shake and allow to
settle
For Ni2+
SI.No. EXPERIMENT OBSERVATION INFERENCE
1. Salt solution + few drops of Bright rose red ppt N·2+
I is confirmed
ammonium hydroxide +
few drops of dimethyl
glyoxime
2. Salt solution+ excess black ppt N·2+
I is confirmed
NaOH+bromine water, boil
/or Ba 2
+
SI.No. EXPERIMENT OBSERVATION INFERENCE
@ Salt solution+few drops of yellow ppt
Ba 2+ is confirmed
potassium chromate
solution
2. Flame test (salt+conc.HCI Grassy green
Ba 2+ is confirmed
paste is taken on a glass
rod and shown to flame
For Sr2+
SI.No. EXPERIMENT OBSERVATION INFERENCE
1. Sal t solution+ammonium Wh ite ppt
sul pha te solution
Sr+ is confirmed
2. Flame tes t fsalt+conc.HCI Crimson red flame Sr2+is confirmed
pas te is tak en on a glass colouration
rod and sho wn to flame
For Ca 2+
/
OBSERVATION INFERENCE
v SI.No. EXPERIMENT
1. Salt solution+ammonium White pp t Ca2+is confirmed
oxalate solution+few drops
of am mo niu m hydroxide
solution
Flame tes t (salt+conc.HCI
brick red flame Ca2+is confirmed
6 pas te is tak en on a glass
colouration
rod and sho wn to flame)
EXPERIMENT OBSERVATION INFERENCE
SI.No. .
m White ppt on scratching
1. Salt solution+solid am mo niu
ide the sides of the tes t Mg2+is confirmed
chloride+ammonium hydrox
um tub e with a glass rod
in slight + excess disodi
hydrogen pho sph ate solution
2. Salt solution+conc.Nitric
Pink ash formation M g2+is confirmed
acid+cobalt nit rat e solution, dip
a filter pap er and sho w to
Bunsen flame
