Inorganic Qualitative Analysis

Experiment Observation Inference

Preliminary tests:
Colour of salt is noted Blue Or bluish green Cu2+ or Ni2+
Light green Ni2+ or Fe2+
Colourless Abs of Cu2+, Ni2+, Fe2+, Mn2+

Solubility in water is noted Soluble Pres of Na+, K+ NH4+ NO3-etc

Insoluble Abs of Na+, K+ NH4+ etc
Smell of salt is noted. Smell of rotten eggs Presence of S2-
Vinegar like smell Presence of CH3COO-
Dry heating test: A little of the salt is heated in a dry Colourless odourless gas, turns May be CO32-
test tube limewater milky
Colourless gas with the smell of rotten May be S2-
eggs
Vinegar like smell May be CH3COO-
Pungent smell. White fumes with May be Cl-
ammonia solution
Violet vapours turns starch paper blue May be I-
Reddish brown vapours turns starch May be Br-
paper orange
Sublimes May be NH4+ or I-
Flame test: Pale green colour (apple green) Pres of Ba2+
Make a paste of the given sat with conc.HCl and show Crimson red colour Pres. Of Sr+2
the non luminous flame Brick red colour Pres. Of Ca2+
Bluish green Pres. Of Cu2+
Dull bluish white Pres. Of Pb2+
Green flashes Pres of Zn2+
Ash Test: To a little of the salt add conc. HNO3 and Pink ash Pres of Mg 2+
cobalt nitrate solution. A filter paper is dipped in this Green ash Pres of Zn2+
solution and burnt Blue ash Pres of Al3
 Analysis of anion or acidic radical

Dilute H2SO4 Test

To a little of the salt add dil. H2SO4. If no reaction takes Brisk effervescence with the evolution of Presence of CO32-
place warm a pinch of the salt with conc H2SO4 a colourless, odourless gas turning
limewater milky
Colourless gas with the smell of rotten Presence of S2-
eggs.

With Conc. H2SO4 a)A pungent smelling gas which gives Presence of Cl-
To a little of the salt add Conc. H2SO4 and heat dense white fumes with a glass rod
dipped in NH4OH
b) Reddish brown gas which turns starch Presence of Br-
paper yellow or orange
c) Colourless gas with the smell of rotten Presence of S2-
eggs.
d) Thick brown fumes which turns starch Presence of NO2-
paper yellow
e) Purple coloured vapours which turns Presence of I-
starch paper blue or black
f) Colourless , odourless gas Presence of C2O42-
g) No gas evolved Absence of CO32- S2- NO2- I- C2O42-
Test for acetate ion:
Rub the salt with dil.H2SO4 Smell of vinegar Presence of CH3COO-
Test for nitrate ion (NO3 2-) Thick brown fumes are formed on Presence of nitrate ion
To a little of the salt add conc.H2SO4 and heat it. addition of copper turnings to the boiling
mixture.

Potassium permangante test a) KMnO4 gets decolourised without the a) Presence of Fe2+
To a little of the salt add dilute H2SO4, boil the solution, evolution of any gas
add a little more H2SO4 and then add KMnO4 solution
drop wise
Test for sulphate - BaCl2 Test
To a little of the salt add dil.HCl and BaCl2 solution. White ppt insoluble in dil and conc.HCl Presence of sulphate ion

Confirmatory test for acid radicals

Carbonate ion(CO32-):
To a little of the salt solution is treated with dil HCl Briskeffervesence and the gas evolved is Presence of carbonate ion confirmed.
passed through lime water. Lime water
turns milky
Sulphide ion(S2-):
To a little of the given salt add dil.acetic acid and lead Black ppt. Presence of sulphide ion confirmed.
acetate solution.
Acetate ion (CH3COO-):
a)To a little of the salt solution add neutral ferric chloride Red colouration or ppt. Presence of acetate ion confirmed.
solution and heat .
b)To a little of the salt solution add conc.H2SO4 and add Fruity smell due to formation of ester Presence of acetate ion confirmed.
2ml of ethyl alcohol.

Chloride,Bromide & Iodide ion (Cl-, Br-, I-):

To a little of the salt add dil.HNO3 , boil and cool the White ppt of AgCl which dissolves in Presence of chloride ion confirmed
solution and then add silver nitrate solution. NH4OH
Pale yellow ppt of AgBr sparingly soluble Presence of bromide ion confirmed
in NH4OH.
Yellow ppt of AgI insoluble in NH4OH Presence of iodide ion confirmed
Nitrate ion (NO3-):
To a little of the salt solution, add freshly prepared FeSO4 A brown ring forms at the junction of Presence of nitrate ion confirmed.
solution. Add a few mL of conc.H2SO4 along the sides of the two liquids.
the test tube.
Sulphate ion (SO42-):
To a little of the salt add dil acetic acid and lead acetate White ppt soluble in excess of Presence of sulphate confirmed.
solution. ammonium acetate
Phosphate ion(PO4 3-):
To a little of the salt add conc.HNO3 and add a few mL of Yellow ppt is formed. Presence of phosphate ion confirmed.
ammonium molybdate and heat.

Analysis of basic radicals (cations)

Prepare original solution : Dissolve salt in water / dil HCl / hot , conc.HCl

Experiment Observation Inference

Test for gpI cations:
To a little of the salt solution add dil.HCl. White ppt is obtained.(Pb2+) Presence of gp I caton

Test for gp II cations:

To the orginal solution add dil.HCl and pass Black ppt is obtained.(Cu2+) Presence of gp II cations.
H2S gas.
Test for gp III cations:
To the orginal solution add solid NH4Cl and White gelatinous ppt {Al3+] Presence of gp III cations
few drops of conc nitric acid. Boil and cool the Brown ppt soluble in dil.HCl (Fe3+)
solution. Add excess of NH4OH till smell of
NH3.
Test for gp.IV cations:
To little of the given salt solution add solid Dirty white ppt is obtained(Zn2+) Presence of gp IV cations.
NH4Cl, conc. HNO3 and excess of NH4OH and Pink ppt is obtained.(Mn2+)
pass H2S gas. Black ppt (Ni2+ or Co2+)
Test for gp V cations:
To little of the orginal solution add NH4Cl, White ppt is obtained. (Ca2+,Ba2+ or Sr2+) Presence of gp V cations
NH4OH & excess of (NH4)2CO3
Test for gp VI cations:
To alittle of the salt solution add NH4Cl, White ppt is obtained.(Mg2+) Presence of gpVI cations
NH4OH drops and excess ammonium
phosphate is added.

Test for ammonium ion: (Zero group)

To a little of the salt solution add NaOH Smell of ammonia. The gas evolved gives Presence of ammonium ion.
solution and heated. dense white fumes with a glass rod dipped in
conc.HCl. Or evolved gas is passed through
nesslers reagent . A brown ppt is formed(
NH4+)

Analysis of gp.I cations

Experiment Observation Inference
Disslove the gp I ppt in hot water and divide into two portions
a.To the 1st portion add potassium chromate Yellow ppt.(PbCrO4) Presence of Pb2+ ion
solution.
b. To the 2nd portion add few drops of KI Yellow ppt. which dissolves on heating and Presence of lead ion confirmed.
solution. reappears as golden spangles on cooling.[PbI2]

Analysis of gp II cations
Experiment Observation Inference
Test for Cu2+ ions:
Dissove the black ppt in hot conc.HNO3 and divide into two portions.
a.To one portion add excess of NH4OH Blue colour is obtained. Presence of Cu2+ ion
solution.
b.To the 2nd portion add potassium A brown ppt is obtained. Presence of copper ion confirmed.
ferrocyanide solution.
Analysis of gp III cations:
Test for aluminium ion
Lake test:
The gelatinous ppt is dissolved in dil.HCl .Add A Blue ppt floats on the clear liquid. Presence of Al3+ confirmed.
a few drops of blue litmus solution followed
by NH4OH in dropwise till the solution
become alkaline.
Ash test:
To alittle of the salt solution add dil. HNO3 and Blue coloured ash. Presence of Al3+ confirmed.
cobalt nitrate solution. Boil, dip a filter paper
in it and burn it to ashes. Note the colour of
the ash.
Test for ferric ion: Prussian blue colour ppt.[Fe4[Fe(CN)6]3 Presence of ferric ion
To a little of the salt solution add a few drops
of dil.HCl and potassium ferrocyanide
solution.

Experiment Observation Inference

Analysis of gp.IV cations
Test for Zn2+ ions
Disslove the white ppt in dil.HCl and divide into 2 portions.
a.To 1st portion add NaOH solution. A white ppt which dissolves in excess of NaOH Presence of Zn2+ ion
is obtained. (Na2ZnO2)

b.To the 2nd portion add potassium A white or bluish white ppt is obtained. Presence of Zn2+ ion
ferrocyanide solution. (Zn2[Fe(CN)6])
Test for Co2+:
To one portion of the solution add ammonium Yellow ppt is obtained. Presence of Co2+ ion.
hydroxide solution pottasium nitrate and
acetic acid
Test for Ni2+:
To one portion of the solution add ammonium A red colour or ppt is obtained. Presence of Ni2+ ion.
hydroxide solution followed by a few drops of
dimethylglyoxime reagent.
Test for Mn2+:
The pink coloured ppt is dissolved in dil.HCl and divided into 2 portions.
a.To the 1st portion add excess of NaOH A white ppt is obtained which turns brown. Presence of Mn2+ ion
solution.
b.To the 2nd portion add PbO2 and conc.HNO3. A pink coloured solution is obtained. Presence of Mn2+ ion
Cool and allow the residue to settle.
Analysis of gp V cations:
Disslove the gp 5 ppt in minimum amount of acetic acid and divide into 3 portions:
Test for Barium ion:
a.To the 1st portion add potassium chromate Yellow ppt is obtained. (BaCrO4) Presence of Ba2+
solution. No ppt. Absence of Sr2+ and Ca2+
b.Flame test is done Pale green flame Presence of Ba2+ confirmed
Test for strontium ion:
a.To the 2nd portion add ammonium sulphate White ppt. Presence of Sr2+ ion
solution and heat.
b.Conduct flame test Crimson red flame. Presence of Sr2+ ion
Test for Calcium ion:
a.To the 3rd portion add ammonium oxalate White ppt soluble in conc.HCl Presence of Ca2+ ion.
solution.
Conduct flame test Brick red colour Presence of calcium ion .
Analysis of gp VI cations:
Experiment Observation Inference
a.Ash test:
To the salt add dil.HNO3 boil and add cobalt Pink tinted ash is obtained. (MgO.CoO) Presence of Mg2+ ion
nitrate solution.Dip filter paper in it & burn it
b.Magneson reagent test:
To 1ml of the original solution add dil.HCl Blue colour or ppt. Presence of magnesium ion.
followed by a few drops of magneson reagent.

Analysis of gp zero cations: (NH4+)

Test for ammonium ion:
To the salt solution add NaOH and a few drops Brownish ppt. Presence of ammonium ion confirmed.
of Nessler’s reagent K2[HgI4]