SALT ANALYSIS
AIM:
To identify the cation and anion in the given inorganic salt.
PHYSICAL EXAMINATION OF THE SALT:
Sl No Experiment Observation Inference
1 Colour of the salt is noted Colourless Absence of Co3+, Fe2+, Fe3+,
Ni2+ etc
2 Odour of the salt is noted Ammoniacal smell NH4+ may be present
Vinegar like smell CH3COO- may be present
3 Deliquescence Salt absorbs moisture Presence of Zn2+ or Mg2+
and become paste like.
PRELIMINARY EXPERIMENTS
TESTS FOR ANIONS:
Sl No Experiment Observation Inference
1 Dil.H2SO4 test: Brisk effervescence due Presence of CO32-
To the salt add dil. H2SO4 to evolution of CO2
in a test tube.
2 Conc. H2SO4 test:
Add a few drops of Conc. White fumes Cl- may be present
H2SO4
Brown fumes Br – may be present
3 Conc. H2SO4 test: Reddish brown fumes NO3- may be present
Add a few drops of Conc.
H2SO4 and add Cu turnings
and heated
4 KMnO4 test: Pink colour of KMnO4 C2O42- may be present
Add H2SO4 to the salt and disappears
add KMnO4 solution
5 Oxalic acid test: Vinegar like smell CH3COO- may be present
Make a paste of salt with
oxalic acid
6 BaCl2 test: White Precipitate SO42- may be present
To the salt add BaCl2
solution
GROUP ANALYSIS FOR CATIONS
CONFIRMATORY TEST FOR ANIONS:
1. CARBONATE ION:
Sl No Experiment Observation Inference
1 Lime water test: Lime water turns milky CO32- is confirmed.
To the salt add dil.
H2SO4 in a test tube
and pass the gas
through lime water.
2. CHLORIDE ION:
Sl No Experiment Observation Inference
1 AgNO3 test: White precipitate Cl - is confirmed.
To the salt add
dil.HNO3,
heated,cooled and
add AgNO3 solution
3. BROMIDE ION:
Sl No Experiment Observation Inference
1 AgNO3 test: Pale yellow precipitate Br - is confirmed.
To the O.S add dil.
Nitric acid, heated,
cooled and add
AgNO3 solution
4. NITRATE ION:
Sl No Experiment Observation Inference
1 Brown ring test: A brown ring is formed at the NO3- is confirmed.
To the salt add junction of two layers
freshly prepared
FeSO4 solution and
add conc. H2SO4
through the sides of
test tube
5. OXALATE ION:
Sl No Experiment Observation Inference
1 CaCl2 test: White precipitate C2O42- is confirmed
To the OS add dil
acetic acid and add
CaCl2 solution
6. ACETATE ION:
Sl No Experiment Observation Inference
1 FeCl3 test: Reddish brown precipitate CH3COO- is confirmed.
To the O.S add
neutral FeCl3
solution
7. SULPHATE ION:
Sl No Experiment Observation Inference
1 Lead acetate test: White precipitate SO42- is confirmed.
To the salt add lead
acetate solution
CONFIRMATORY TEST FOR CATIONS:
1. AMMONIUM ION :(GROUP 0)
Sl No Experiment Observation Inference
1 Nessler’s test: Brown precipitate NH4+ is confirmed.
To the salt add
NaOH and heated
and add Nessler’s
reagent.
2. LEAD ION :(GROUP I)
Sl Experiment Observation Inference
No
1 Potassium iodide test: Yellow precipitate Pb2+ is confirmed.
To the salt add KI
solution
2 Potassium chromate Yellow precipitate Pb2+ is confirmed.
test:
To the salt add K2CrO4
solution.
3 Flame test: Dull white flame Pb2+ is confirmed.
Salt is mixed with
conc .HCl to make a
paste and shown to the
flame
3. ALUMINIUM ION:(GROUP III)
Sl No Experiment Observation Inference
1 Lake test: Blue precipitate Al3+ is confirmed.
Group III ppt is
dissolved in dil HCl
and add blue litmus
solution followed by
NH4OH
2 Cobalt nitrate test: Blue tinted ash Al3+ is confirmed.
Salt is mixed with
conc nitric acid and
cobalt nitrate
solution and a filter
paper dipped in it is
to be burnt into ash.
4. ZINC ION: (GROUP IV)
Sl Experiment Observation Inference
No
1 To the O.S add White precipitate Zn2+ is confirmed.
NaOH solution
2 To the salt add White/Blue precipitate Zn2+ is confirmed
potassium
ferrocyanide
3 Cobalt nitrate test: Green tinted ash Zn2+ is confirmed
Salt is mixed with
conc nitric acid and
cobalt nitrate
solution and a filter
paper dipped in it is
to be burnt into ash.
5. BARIUM ION: (GROUP V)
Sl No Experiment Observation Inference
1 Potassium Yellow precipitate Ba2+ is confirmed.
chromate test:
To the group V ppt,
add dil acetic acid,
heated cooled and
add K2CrO4 solution.
2 Flame test: Light green flame Ba2+ is confirmed.
Salt is mixed with
conc .HCl to make a
paste and shown to
the flame
6. CALCIUM ION: (GROUP V)
Sl No Experiment Observation Inference
1 Ammonium White precipitate Ca2+ is confirmed.
oxalate:
To the group V ppt,
add dil acetic acid
and ammonium
oxalate solution.
2 Flame test: Brick red flame Ca2+ is confirmed.
Salt is mixed with
conc .HCl to make a
paste and shown to
the flame
7. STRONTIUM ION: (GROUP V)
Sl No Experiment Observation Inference
1 Ammonium White precipitate Sr2+ is confirmed.
sulphate:
To the O.S add
ammonium sulphate
solution.
2 Flame test: Crimson red flame Sr2+ is confirmed.
Salt is mixed with
conc .HCl to make a
paste and shown to
the flame
8. MAGNESIUM ION:
Sl No Experiment Observation Inference
1 Magneson reagent Blue precipitate Mg2+ is confirmed.
test:
To the O.S add
Magneson reagent
2 Cobalt nitrate test: Light Pink / white ash Mg2+ is confirmed.
Salt is mixed with
conc nitric acid and
cobalt nitrate
solution and a filter
paper dipped in it is
to be burnt into ash.
CHEMICAL EQUATIONS FOR ANIONS:
1. CARBONATE ION:
Lime water test
2. CHLORIDE ION:
3. BROMIDE ION:
4. NITRATE ION:
5. OXALATE ION:
6. ACETATE ION:
7. SULPHATE ION:
CHEMICAL EQUATIONS FOR CATIONS:
1. AMMONIUM ION:
Nessler’s test
HgO.Hg(NH2)I + 7KI + 2H2O
2. LEAD ION:
3. ALUMINIUM ION:
4. ZINC ION:
5. BARIUM ION:
6. CALCIUM ION:
7. STRONTIUM ION:
8. MAGNESIUM ION:
