Preliminary Test
Experiment Observation Inference
1] Colour and appearance of a] Colourless crystals Absence of Carbonate ion
the salt is noted. b] Powder Presence of Carbonate anion
2] Ash test: A little of the salt is
a] Pink ash (whitish) Presence of Magnesium ion
heated with conc.HNO3 and b] Green ash Presence of Zinc ion
cobalt nitrate solution. A filter c] Blue ash Presence of Aluminium ion
paper dipped in the solution is
burnt to ash.
3] Flame test: A little of the salt a] Brick red flame Presence of Calcium ion
is made into a paste with b] Green flame Presence of Barium ion
conc.HCl on a watch glass and
a glass rod with the paste is
shown into the flame.
Analysis of Anions
1) To a little of the salt, Brisk effervescence Presence of carbonate
add dil.HCl No brisk effervescence Absence of Carbonate
2) A little of the salt is Smell of vinegar Presence of acetate
rubbed with dil.H2SO4 No smell of vinegar Absence of acetate
in a watch glass and
the smell is noted.
3) A little of the salt is Thick fumes with pungent Presence of chlorine
heated with smell is evolved.
Conc.H2SO4 No thick fumes Absence of chlorine
4) A little of the salt is Reddish brown fumes are Presence of nitrate
heated with liberated inside the test tube
Conc.H2SO4 and paper
balls added. No reddish brown fumes Absence of nitrate
5) A little of the salt White precipitate Presence of Sulphate
solution is treated with
Barium Chloride No precipitation Absence of Sulphate
solution.
Confirmatory Test for Carbonate
a] Barium chloride solution is White precipitate Presence of carbonate
added to salt solution confirmed.
b]Above precipitate is treated Precipitate dissolves Presence of carbonate once
with dil.HCl again confirmed.
Confirmatory test for Acetate anion
a] Neutral Ferric chloride Red colour Presence of carbonate
solution is added to salt confirmed.
solution
b]To a little of salt solution few Pleasant fruity smell Presence of acetate once again
ml of concentrated H 2 SO 4 confirmed.
and alcohol is added. The
mixture is heated and poured
into excess water taken in a
small beaker
Confirmatory test for Chloride anion
a] Salt solution is acidified with White curdy precipitate which Presence of Chloride anion
dilute nitric acid and then dissolves in excess ammonium confirmed.
added silver nitrate solution. hydroxide solution.
b] Salt is mixed with Greenish yellow gas with Presence of Chloride anion
concentrated sulphuric acid pungent smell evolved. once again confirmed.
and pinch of manganese
dioxide is added.
Confirmatory test for Nitrate anion
a. Salt solution is mixed with Brown ring is formed between Presence of Nitrate anion
equal volume of freshly the layers confirmed.
prepared FeSO4 solution, then
conc. H 2 SO 4 is added along
the sides of test tube without
shaking.
b. Salt is treated with diphenyl Blue precipitate Presence of Nitrate anion once
amine and then conc. H2SO4 is again confirmed.
added
Confirmatory test for Sulphate ion
A little of the salt solution is White precipitate Presence of sulphate
treated with acetic acid and confirmed
lead acetate solution.
SYSTEMATIC ANALYSIS FOR CATIONS
1] Action of Na2CO3 solution:- No precipitate Presence of Group 0 ions
Salt solution is treated with A precipitate Absence of Group 0 ions
sodium carbonate solution
2] Action of dil.HCl:-Salt A heavy white precipitate Presence of Group I ion
solution is treated with dilute Nothing characteristics identified.
hydrochloric acid Absence of Group I ions
3] Action of dil.HCl & H2S:- A Nothing characteristic Absence of Group II ions
little of salt solution is treated
with dilute hydrochloric acid &
Hydrogen sulphide gas is
passed through it.
4] Action of solid NH 4Cl & A white gelatinous or brown Presence of group III ion
excess NH4OH :- precipitate identified.
A little of salt solution is Nothing characteristic Absence of Group III ions
treated with solid ammonium
chloride and excess
ammonium hydroxide solution
is added
5] Action of solid NH4Cl, White precipitate Presence of Group IV ions
excess NH4OH & H2S :-A little Nothing characteristic Absence of Group IV ions
of salt solution is treated with
solid ammonium chloride and
excess ammonium hydroxide
solution is added & then
hydrogen sulphide gas passed.
6] Action of solid NH4Cl, excess White precipitate Presence of Group V ions
NH4OH & (NH4)2CO3 :- Nothing characteristic Absence of Group V ions
A little of salt solution is
treated with solid ammonium
chloride and excess
ammonium hydroxide solution
is added and then ammonium
carbonate is added.
7] Action of solid White crystalline precipitate Presence of Group VI identified
NH4Cl, excess NH4OH & Nothing characteristic Absence of Group VI ions
disodium hydrogen
phosphate:-A little of salt
solution is treated with solid
ammonium chloride and
excess ammonium hydroxide
solution is added & then
disodium hydrogen phosphate
is added.
ANALYSIS OF GROUP 0 IONS
Small amount of salt solution is Smell of ammonia. The gas Presence of
boiled with NaOH solution. produces dense white fumes ammonium ion identified
when a glass rod dipped in
conc.HCl is shown
Confirmatory Test for Ammonium
To a little of salt solution Brown precipitate. Presence of
Nessler ’s reagent is ammonium ion confirmed
added.(take one or two drops
of salt solution)
ANALYSIS OF GROUP I IONS
To a little of salt solution K 2 Yellow precipitate. Presence of lead ion identified
CrO4 (potassium chromate)
solution is added.
Confirmatory Test for Lead ion
To a little of salt solution KI Yellow precipitate soluble in Presence of lead ion
(potassium iodide) solution is hot water and reappears as confirmed.
added and acetic acid if golden spangles on cooling.
necessary (for better golden
spangles)
ANALYSIS OF GROUP III IONS
1.Salt is boiled with Blue tinted ash. Presence of aluminium cation
concentrated nitric acid and identified
cobalt nitrate solution. A
folded filter paper soaked in
this solution is burnt into ash
(Ash test).
Confirmatory Test for Aluminium ion
1.To a little of salt solution White gelatinous precipitate Presence of aluminium ion
NaOH is added drop wise till in soluble in excess NaOH. confirmed.
excess.
ANALYSIS OF GROUP IV IONS
A little of the salt solution is a] Dirty white precipitate Presence of Zinc ion
treated with ammonium b] Pink precipitate Presence of Manganese
chloride, ammonium hydroxide ion
and hydrogen sulphide.
Confirmatory test for Zinc ion
a]A little of the salt solution is White precipitate Presence of Zinc confirmed
treated with NaOH
b]Ash test is conducted Green ash Presence of Zinc confirmed
Confirmatory test for Manganese ion
A little of the salt solution is White precipitate turning Presence of Manganese
treated with NaOH brown confirmed
A little of the salt solution is Supernatant solution is purple Presence of Manganese
treated with PbO2 (a pinch) coloured confirmed
and conc.H2SO4 heated,
cooled and water is added.
Confirmatory Test for Group V
1.A little of the group V
precipitate is mixed with acetic
acid and divided into two
portions.
a] To one part add ammonium White precipitate Presence of Calcium confirmed
oxalate
b] To the second part add Yellow precipitate Presence of Barium confirmed
potassium chromate solution
2.Flame test is conducted a] Brick red flame Presence of Calcium confirmed
b] Green flame Presence of Barium confirmed
ANALYSIS OF GROUP VI IONS
1. Salt is boiled with Pink ash. Presence of Magnesium cation
concentrated nitric acid and identified.
cobalt nitrate solution. A
folded filter paper soaked in
this solution is burnt into ash
(Ash test).
Confirmatory Test for Magnesium ion
Few drops of Magneson A blue precipitate formed Presence of
reagent and NaOH is added to Magnesium ion confirmed.
the salt solution
