SCHEME FOR SALT ANALYSIS

EXPERIMENT OBSERVATION INFERENCE

PHYSICAL EXAMINATION OF SALT

1. Colour: Note the colour of the given salt White Shows the absence of
Cu2+, Fe2+, Fe3+, Ni2+,
Mn2+, Co2+
2. Smell: Take a pinch of salt within your fingers i. Ammoniacal NH4+
and rub it with a drop of water
ii. Vinegar like smell CH3COO-
iii. Rotten eggs S2-
3. Dry heating test: Take a small amount of salt 1. Gas evolved
in a dry test tube and heat it carefully over a
a. Colourless and odourless gas CO2 CO32- , or C2O42-
direct flame.
gas- turns lime water milky

b. Colourless gas with odour

i. H2S gas- smells like rotten egg, Hydrated S2-
turns lead acetate paper black

ii. SO2 gas- Characteristic smell SO32-

turns acidified potassium
dichromate paper green
iii. HCl gas- Pungent smell, white Cl-
fumes with ammonia, white ppt.
with silver nitrate solution.
iv. Acetic acid vapours- CH3COO-
Characteristic vinegar like smell.
v. NH3 gas- Characteristic smell, NH4+
turns Nessler’s reagent brown.
c. Coloured gas- Pungent smell
i. NO2 gas- Reddish brown, turns NO2- or NO3-
ferrous sulphate solution black.
ii. Cl2 gas-Greenish yellow, turns Cl-
starch iodide paper blue.
iii. Br2 gas- Reddish brown, turns Br-
starch paper orange yellow.
iv. I2 vapours-Dark violet, turns I-
starch paper blue.
i. Brick red Ca2+

4. Flame Test: Prepared a paste of the salt with ii. Crimson red Sr2+
con. HCl and performed flame test.
iii. Persistant grassy green Ba2+

iv.Green flashes Zn2+, Mn2+

 v. Dull bluish Pb2+
white

II. IDENTIFICATION OF ANIONS

i. Test for Carbonate: Dil. HCl is added to a salt Brisk effervescence with the Presence of carbonate is
taken in a test tube evolution of a colourless, odourless identified.
gas turning lime water milky.
No characteristic reaction Absence of carnonate
ii. Test for Acetate: Little of the salt is rubbed Smell of vinegar Presence of acetate is
with dil. H2SO4 in a watch glass identified
No smell of vinegar Absence of acetate

iii. Test for Chloride: Little of the salt is heated A colourless fuming gas is evolved Presence of chloride is
strongly with concentrated H2SO4 in a dry test which gives dense white fumes when identified
tube a glass rod dipped in ammonium
hydroxide solution is shown at the
top of the test tube
No characteristic reaction Absence of Chloride

iv. Test for Nitrate: Little of the salt is heated Plenty of Reddish-brown gas is Presence of nitrate is
strongly with concentrated H2SO4 in a dry test evolved identified
and a paper ball is added into the boiling solution
No characteristic reaction Absence of nitrate

v. Test for Sulphate: BaCl2 solution is added to A white precipitate which is Presence of sulphate is
little of salt solution insoluble in dilute HCI identified
No characteristic reaction Absence of sulphate

CONFIRMATORY TESTS FOR ANION

i. Carbonate:
a. Limewater test or Dilute HCl test Brisk effervescence and evolution of CO32- confirmed
colourless, odourless gas
To a part of aqueous solution of salt add dilute
HC. Evolved gas pass through lime water.

b. Magnesium sulphate test

To another part of aqueous solution Lime water turns milky CO32- confirmed
of salt, add few drops of magnesium sulphate
solution.
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
1.Lime water test for reaction with dil. HCl
CaCO3 + 2HCl → CaCl2 + CO2 + H2O
Ca(OH)2 + CO2 → CaCO3 + H2O
2. Magnesium sulphate test
Na2CO3 + MgSO4 → MgCO3 + Na2SO4
ii. Acetate:
a. Ester Test: Take a pinch of salt in a test tube.
Add 1 ml conc. H2SO4 and heat it, and add 4-5
drops of ethyl alcohol. Shake and pour the
contents of the tube in to a beaker full of water
and stir.
b. Ferric chloride test: To a portion of the water Pleasant fruity odour CH3COO- confirmed
extract of the salt, add few drops ferric chloride
solution. Filter and divide the filtrate into two
portions.

(i) To one part, add dilute HCI. Deep red colouration produced. CH3COO- confirmed
(ii) To second part, add water and boil. Reddish colour disappears. CH3COO- confirmed
Reddish brown ppt. CH3COO- confirmed

CHEMICAL REACTIONS
i. Ester Test:

ii. Ferric chloride test:

3 CH3COONa + FeCl3 (aq) → (CH3COO)3Fe +3NaCl
(CH3COO)3Fe + 2H2O → (CH3COO)(OH)2Fe↓ + 2CH3COOH

iii. Chloride:
a. Silver Nitratte Test: Acidify a portion of A curdy white precipitate is formed Cl- confirmed
aqueous solution or sodium extract with dilute which is soluble in ammonium
HNO3. Boil for some time, cool the contents and hydroxide
then add AgNO3 solution.

b. Manganese dioxide test: Heat a pinch of the Evolution of Cl2 gas having yellowish Cl- confirmed
solid salt with MnO2 and concentrated H2SO4 green colour having a pungent irritating
smell which turns moist starch iodide
paper blue.
c. Chromyl chloride test: Mix the small
quantity of the given salt (solid) with an equal
amount of powdered K2Cr₂O7.Take the mixture
in a test tube and add concentrated H₂SO4
Heat the tube and pass these red vapours through
NaOH solution. Acidify this solution with acetic
acid and then add lead acetate solution. Yellow ppt. soluble in NaOH Cl- confirmed

CHEMICAL REACTION

iv. Nitrate:
a. Diphenylamine test: Take 1 ml of aqueous Deep blue colouration. NO3- confirmed
solution in a test tube and add few drops of
diphenylamine solution.
b. Copper chips test: Heat a pinch of the salt
with a few copper chips and concentrated H2SO4 Dark brown fumes of NO2 gas NO3- confirmed
evolved.
c. Ring test: To a portion of the aqueous solution
of the salt, add freshly prepared ferrous sulphate
NO3- confirmed
solution and then pour concentrated HSO, along
A dark brown ring is formed at the
the side of the test tube.
junction of the two layers.

CHEMICAL REACTIONS
v. Sulphate:
a. Barium chloride test: To a part of aqueous White ppt. insoluble in conc.HCl SO42- confirmed
solution, add dilute HCl and wait until the
effervescence ceases then add BaCl2 solution
b. Match stick test: Filter the above white ppt,
and mix it with an equal amount of solid sodium
carbonate and powdered charcoal to get a paste
Apply some of this paste on one end of a Violet or purple streaks are produced. SO42- confirmed
wooden splinter or a carbonized match stick and
heat it in the reducing flame till the whole mass
fuses sip the fused mass into some ammonical
sodium nitroprusside solution taken in a china
dish.
c. Lead acetate test: To a part of aqueous
solution, add dilute acetic acid and boil to expel
CO, gas. Cool the mixture and then add lead
acetate solution. solution.

White ppt. soluble in excess of SO42- confirmed

ammonium acetate solution.

CHEMICAL REACTIONS

IDENTIFICATION OF CATIONS

i. To the salt solution Na2CO3 solution is added No ppt Presence of group zero
(NH4+)

A ppt Absence of group zero

(NH4+)
ii. To the salt solution dil. HCl is added A white ppt Presence of group 1
(Pb2+)
 No white ppt Absence of group 1
(Pb2+)

iii. To the salt solution dil. HCl is added and H2S A black ppt Presence of group 2
gas is passed (Cu2+)

No ppt Absence of group 2

(Cu2+)
iv. To the salt solution solid NH4Cl and NH4OH A white gelatinous ppt Presence of group 3
solution are added. (Al3+)
Absence of group 3
No ppt
(Al3+)
v. To the salt solution solid NH4Cl and NH4OH A white ppt Presence of group 4
solution are added. Then H2S gas is passed (Zn2+)
Absence of group 4
No ppt
(Zn2+)
vi. To the salt solution solid NH4Cl and NH4OH A white ppt Presence of group 5
and (NH4)2CO3 solution is added (Ba2+/Sr2+)
Absence of group 5
No ppt

vii. To the salt solution solid NH4Cl and A white crystalline ppt Presence of group 6
NH4OH and disodium hydrogen phosphate (Mg2+)
(Na2HPO4) solutions are added.
Absencce of group 6
No ppt

CONFIRMATION TEST FOR CATIONS

i. Group zero (NH4+)
a. To the salt solution, small amount of NaOH A colourless pungent smelling gas Presence of
solution is added and boiled which forms dense white fumes when a ammonium ion is
glass rod dipped in concentrated HC is confirmed
shown at the top of the test tube

b. To the salt solution, Nessler’s reagent is A brown ppt Presence of

added. ammonium ion is
confirmed

ii. Group 1 (Pb2+)

a. To the salt solution, potassium iodide solution A golden yellow ppt is obtained. This Presence of lead ion is
is added ppt dissolves on boiling and reappears as identified
golden spangles on cooling

b. To the salt solution potassium chromate A yellow ppt Presence of lead ion is
solution is added confirmed
iii. Group 2 (Cu2+)
a. Potassium ferrocyanide test: A chocolate brown ppt. is formed Presence of copper ion
is confirmed
To the salt solution acetic acid and potassium
ferrocyanide solution is added.

b. Potassium iodide test: A white ppt is formed in brown solution. Presence of copper ion
is confirmed
To the salt solution acetic acid and KI solution
is added.

iv. Group 3 (Al3+)

a. To the salt solution, NaOH A white gelatinous ppt soluble in excess Presence Al3+ ion is
solution is added drop by drop in excess of NaOH solution confirmed.

b. Lake test: Blue ppt. or blue lake floating in the Presence Al3+ ion is
Dissolve the white ppt. in dilute hydrochloric colourless solution. confirmed.
acid add few drops of blue litmus solution,
solution turns pink. Now add NH4OH dropwise
till blue colour develops.

v. Group 4 (Zn2+)
a. To the salt solution, NaOH solution is added A white ppt soluble in excess of NaOH Presence of zinc ion is
drop by drop in excess solution identified

b. Potassium ferrocyanide test: To salt White or bluish ppt Presence of zinc ion is
solution, potassium ferrocyanide solution is confirmed
added

Group 5 (Ba2+, Ca2+, Sr2+)

Ba2+ ion
a. Potassium chromate test: Yellow precipitate is formed. Ba2+ ion is confirmed
To salt solution, add a few drops of potassium
chromate solution.

b. Flame test:
Perform the flame test with the original salt. Grassy green flame Ba2+ ion is confirmed
Ca2+ ion
a. To the salt solution, NH4Cl, NH4OH and A white crystalline ppt Ca2+ ion is confirmed
ammonium oxalate solutions are added
b. Flame test:
Brick red flame Ca2+ ion is confirmed
Perform the flame test with the original salt.
Sr2+ ion
a. Ammonium sulphate test:
To the salt solution, add 1 mL of ammonium
White precipitate is formed. Sr2+ ion is confirmed
sulphate solution and warm.
b. Flame test:
Perform the flame test with the original salt.

Crimson red flame Sr2+ ion is confirmed

Group 6 (Mg2+)
To the salt solution Magneson reagent and Blue ppt Mg2+ ion is confirmed.
excess of NaOH solutions are added.

CHEMICAL REACTIONS
i. Group 0
a. Sodium hydroxide test:

b. Nessler’s Reagent Test:

ii. Group 1
a. Potassium iodide test:

b. Potassium chromate test:

iii. Group 2 (Cu2+)
a. Potassium ferrocyanide test:

b. Potassium iodide test:

2CuSO4 + 4KI → Cu2I2↓ + I2 + 2K2SO4

iv. Group 3 (Al3+)

a. Test with sodium hydroxide

b. Lake Test:

v. Group 4 (Zn2+)
a. Sodium hydroxide test:

b. Potassium ferrocyanide test:

vi. Group 5 (Ba2+, Ca2+, Sr2+)

Ba2+
a. Potassium chromate test:

b.Flame test: Barium ion imparts grassy green colour to the flame.
Ca2+
a. Ammonium oxalate test:

b. Flame test: Calcium ion imparts brick red colour to the flame.
Sr2+
a. Ammonium sulphate test:

b. Flame test: Strontium ion imparts crimson red colour to the flame.

vii. Group 6 (Mg2+)

RESULT:
Acidic radical (anion):
Basic radical (cation):