Salt Analysis
List of Common Cations (Basic Radicals) for Salt Analysis
Group 0 NH4+
Group 1 Pb2+
Group 2 Cu2+
Group 3 Fe3+, Fe2+, Al3+
Group 4 Co2+, Mn2+, Ni2+, Zn2+
Group 5 Ba2+, Ca2+, Sr2+
Group 6 Mg2+
List of Common Anions (Acidic Radicals) for Salt Analysis
Group 1 CO32-, NO2–, SO32-, S2-
Group 2 Cl–, Br–, I–, CH3COO–, NO3–
Group 3 PO43- , SO42-
Note: Multiple Ions belonging to the same group have the same
preliminary test but different confirmatory tests.
Always check the colour of the salt first. Certain cations have coloured salts. If the salt is coloured, you
can directly conduct a preliminary test for the cation that forms salts of that colour. The cations that
form coloured salts are tabulated below:
Colour of the Cation
Inorganic Salt
Blue Cu2+
Deep Blue Co2+(anhydrous salt)
Greenish-blue Cu2+ (hydrated salt)
Green Ni2+ (hydrated salt)
Light green Fe2+
Yellow, brown, or Fe3+
yellowish-brow
Pale pink Mn2+
Rose red Co2+ or mercuric iodide (HgI2)
Purple or dark green Cr3+
If the salt is colourless, perform a flame test first (since the presence of 3 different cations can be
confirmed by it). An easier way to perform the flame test is to pick up a chunk of the salt with test tube
holders, pour a few drops of concentrated HCl on it, and expose it to the flame of a Bunsen burner.
If you do not gain any insight into the cation from the flame test (or from visual inspection), proceed
with group-wise preliminary tests for cations. Note that some cations do not form salts with certain
anions, as listed below.
1. Ba2+, Sr2+, Pb2+, and Ca2+ do not form salts with the sulphate anion (SO42-).
2. Only group 0, group 1, and group 2 cations form salts with the phosphate anion (PO43-).
If you identify one of these cations in the salt analysis, you need not conduct tests for the corresponding
anions.
Finally, certain salts are very common in salt analysis examinations. For example, the most common
salt containing the bromide ion (Br–) is NH4Br and the most common salt containing the calcium
cation (Ca2+) is CaCl2. Also, some salts can be identified by observing their texture and appearance
(for example, calcium carbonate has the texture of powdered chalk). Therefore, visiting your
chemistry laboratory and physically examining the salts may help you quickly analyze the salt in the
practical examination.
Preliminary Test for Anions
Preliminary Test for Group 1 Anions
Add a few drops of dilute H2SO4 (sulfuric acid) to a small quantity of the salt in a test tube (If
nothing happens, move on to preliminary test for group 2 anions).
Carbonate (CO32-) Colourless and odourless gas that turns limewater milky
Sulphite (SO32-) Colourless, pungent-smelling gas
Sulphide (S2-) Colourless gas which smells like rotten eggs
Nitrite (NO2–) Light brown gas having a pungent smell
Preliminary Test for Group 2 Anions
Experiment: Take a small chunk of the salt in a test tube and add a few drops of concentrated H2SO4
(sulfuric acid) to it (If nothing happens, move on to preliminary test for group 3 anions).
Anion Positive Result
White, pungent-smelling fumes that intensify when a glass rod
Chloride (Cl–) dipped in ammonium hydroxide is brought to the mouth of the test
tube
Bromide (Br–) Reddish-brown fumes
Iodide (I–) Violet fumes
Acetate (CH3COO–) Pungent fumes that smell like vinegar
Nitrate (NO3–) Brown fumes with a pungent smell
Bubbly effervescence of a combination of carbon monoxide and
Oxalate (C2O4–)
carbon dioxide gas
Preliminary Test for Group 3 Anions
The sulphate and phosphate ions (group 3 anions) do not have any preliminary tests. If no positive
preliminary tests are obtained for group 1 and group 2 anions, you can directly jump to confirmatory
tests for the sulphate and phosphate anions.
Confirmatory Test for Anions
*Note: Water extract of the salt can be prepared by dissolving a pinch of the inorganic salt in a few
drops of water.
Anion Confirmatory Test Positive Observation
Add magnesium
Carbonate sulphate (MgSO4) to
Formation of a white precipitate.
(CO32-) the water extract of
the salt
Add aqueous barium
Sulphite Formation of a white precipitate which disappears when
chloride (BaCl2) to the
(SO32-) diluting hydrochloric acid (HCl) is added.
water extract
(i) Add sodium
nitroprusside to the
water extract
Sulphide (S2-) (i) The solution turns purple or violet
(ii) Add aqueous (ii) Formation of a black precipitate
lead acetate to the
water extract
Boil a mixture of the
water extract and
dilute H2SO4. Now add
Nitrite (NO2–) The solution develops a deep blue colour
solid potassium iodide
and starch solution to
it
Add silver nitrate
Formation of a white precipitate which is soluble in
Chloride (Cl )
–
(AgNO3) to the water
ammonium hydroxide (NH4OH)
extract
Add silver nitrate to Formation of a yellow precipitate which is partially soluble
Bromide (Br–)
the water extract in ammonium hydroxide
Add silver nitrate to Formation of a yellow precipitate which is insoluble in
Iodide (I–)
the water extract NH4OH
Mix the water extract
with iron (II) sulphate
solution (FeSO4) and
Formation of a brown ring at the junction of the acid and
Nitrate (NO3–) add one drop of
the solution.
concentrated nitric
acid (HNO3) along the
side of the test tube.
Add concentrated
Acetate Development of a fruity smell (due to the formation of an
H2SO4 and some
(CH3COO–) ester)
ethanol to the salt.
Add acetic acid and
Oxalate calcium chloride to the Formation of a white precipitate that dissolves upon the
(C2O4–) water extract and boil addition of dilute HNO3
the solution.
Add aqueous barium
Sulphate Formation of a white precipitate which is insoluble in
chloride (BaCl2) to the
(SO42-) concentrated hydrochloric acid (HCl)
water extract
Add dilute nitric acid
(HNO3) and
Phosphate ammonium molybdate
Formation of a yellow, crystalline precipitate
(PO43-) ((NH4)2MoO4) to the
water extract and boil
the resulting solution.
Preliminary Test for Cations
In salt analysis. Preliminary tests for cations must be conducted in order to check for the presence of
different cations in the inorganic salt. This is done in a manner that is similar to the preliminary tests for
anions. Note that some cation groups (such as group 0 and group 6 cations) do not have any preliminary
tests. For these cations, confirmatory tests may be conducted directly.
Note: The original solution (OS) of the salt can be prepared by mixing a small amount of the inorganic
salt with water and acid.
Preliminary Test for Group 1 Cations
Experiment: Add a few drops of dilute hydrochloric acid (HCl) to the original solution.
Cation Positive Result
Lead (Pb2+) Formation of a white precipitate
Preliminary Test for Group 2 Cations
Experiment: Add a few drops of dilute HCl and hydrogen sulphide (H2S) to the OS.
Cation Positive Result
Copper (Cu2+) A black precipitate is formed
Preliminary Test for Group 3 Cations
Ferrous salts (featuring Fe2+ ions) are green in colour and ferric salts (featuring Fe3+ ions) are
brown in colour.
For aluminium (Al3+ ion), a gelatinous white precipitate is obtained when the solid ammonium
chloride (NH4Cl) and excess ammonium hydroxide are added to the original solution.
Preliminary Test for Group 4 Cations
Experiment: Add solid NH4Cl and excess NH4OH to the original solution. Now pass H2S
gas through it.
Cobalt (Co2+) and Nickel (Ni2+), conduct
Formation of a black precipitate
both confirmatory tests
Manganese (Mn2+) A skin-coloured precipitate is formed
Zinc (Zn2+) A greyish-white precipitate is formed
Preliminary Test for Group 5 Cations
Experiment: Add ammonium carbonate ((NH4)2CO3), ammonium chloride (NH4Cl), and
ammonium hydroxide to the original solution. If you obtain a white precipitate, the cation
might be a group 5 cation. Add dilute acetic acid (CH3COOH) to dissolve the white
precipitate. Now do the following tests in the same order followed in the tabular column
provided below.
A yellow precipitate is formed when K2CrO4 is added to
Barium (Ba2+)
the solution.
A white precipitate is formed when aqueous (NH4)2SO4 is
Strontium (Sr2+)
added to the solution.
A white precipitate is formed when aqueous
Calcium (Ca2+) (NH4)2C2O4 (ammonium oxalate) and NH4OH are added to
the solution.
Confirmatory Tests for Cations
Cation Confirmatory Test Positive Observation
Ammonium Add sodium hydroxide to the original solution and Formation of a yellow or brown
(NH4+) treat it with Nessler’s reagent (K2HgI4) precipitate
(i) Add potassium iodide (KI) to the original solution
Lead (Pb2+) Formation of a yellow precipitate
(ii) Add potassium chromate (K2CrO4) to the (for both the tests)
original solution
In the preliminary test, a black precipitate is obtained
Copper from the addition of dilute HCl and H2S to the original
A blue coloured solution is formed
(Cu2+) solution. Isolate the black precipitate and add excess
ammonium hydroxide to it
Add concentrated nitric acid to the original solution
Iron (Fe )
3+
and heat it. A brown precipitate will form. Add HCl A blue precipitate is formed
and potassium ferrocyanide (K4[Fe(CN)6]) to it
A gelatinous white precipitate is obtained when NH4Cl
Aluminium and excess NH4OH are added to the original solution. A floating, blue layer is formed on
(Al3+) Isolate the precipitate and dissolve it in HCl. Now add the surface of the clear solution
blue litmus and NH4OH to it drop-by-drop
Add solid NH4Cl and excess NH4OH to the original
Cobalt solution and pass H2S gas through it. Dissolve the
A yellow precipitate is obtained.
(Co2+) resulting blue residue in water and add dilute
CH3COOH and KNO2 to it. Now warm the mixture.
Add solid NH4Cl and excess NH4OH to the original
solution and pass H2S gas through it. Dissolve the
Nickel (Ni2+) resulting yellow residue in water (you will now obtain A black precipitate is formed
a green-coloured solution). Add NaOH and bromine
water to this mixture and boil it.
To the skin-coloured precipitate obtained in the Formation of a white precipitate that
Manganese
preliminary test, add dilute HCl and boil off the H2S. turns brown or black when bromine
(Mn2+)
Now add NaOH. water is added
Add NaOH (in excess) to the greyish-white
Zinc (Zn2+) The white precipitate is dissolved
precipitate obtained in the preliminary test.
Barium
(Ba2+), Flame test: Make a paste of the salt by mixing it with Ba2+: Green-coloured flame
Strontium a few drops of concentrated hydrochloric acid. Now
(Sr2+), and skim off some of the paste with a glass rod and Sr2+: Crimson red flame
Calcium expose it to a Bunsen Burner’s flame.
Ca2+: Brick red flame
(Ca2+)
Magnesium Add NH4Cl, (NH4)3PO4 (ammonium phosphate) and
A white precipitate is obtained
(Mg2+) excess NH4OH to the original solution.
