Salt analysis --- General procedure

Aim: To identify the anion and cation present in the given simple salt by performing suitable tests
Preliminary tests for anions and cations

S.No. Experiment Observation Inference

2+
Colourless May be pb , Ca , Al3+, Zn2+, Ba2+,
2+

Sr2+,Mg2+,NH4+
Blue May be Cu2+

Pale green / yellowish May be ferrous

green

1 The colour of the salt is noted Reddish brown May be ferric

Pale pink May be manganese

Reddish brown May be cobalt

Green May be nickel

2 Solubility test: Soluble May be chloride , Iodide, Nitrate, Sulphate
A pinch of the salt is made into and ammonium carbonate.
solution with water

Insoluble May be sulphide , carbonate

 White salt turns yellow May be Zinc

Blue salt turns white May be cupric

Green salt turns yellow / May be nickel

white

Colourless gas that turns May be carbonate

lime water milky
Action of heat: A pinch of the salt is
3 strongly heated in a dry boiling tube Reddish brown vapours May be nitrate

Violet vapours May be Iodide

Decriptation – popping May be lead nitrate

sound
White sublimate formed on May be Ammonia (NH4+)
cooler walls of the test tube

4 Flame test: A Pinch of the salt is Blue/ Bluish green Cupric ( Cu2+ )
made into a paste with con HCl in a
watch glass and is introduced into a Apple green Barium ( Ba2+ )
non luminous Bunsen flame using a Crimson red Strontium (Sr2+)
charred matchstick Brick red Calcium (Ca2+ )
No characteristic flame Absence of Cu2+ , Ba2+ , Sr2+ , Ca2+ .

Ash test : A filter paper is soaked into Green coloured ash Presence of Zinc
5 a paste of the salt with dil .HNO3 and
cobalt nitrate solution and introduced
into the Bunsen flame and ignited
 Blue coloured ash Presence of Aluminium

Pink coloured ash Presence of magnesium

No characteristic ash Absence of Zn2+,

Al3+, Mg2+
6 Action of sodium hydroxide To 1 ml of A colourless pungent
the salt solution ,NaOH is added and smelling gas is evolved
heated which turns red litmus Presence of ammonium salt
paper blue and gives white
dense fumes with a rod
dipped in con. Hcl
No colourless pungent Absence of ammonium salt
smelling gas is evolved
II Identification of Anions ( Acid radicals)
Brisk effervescence with Presence of carbonate
the release of a colourless
and odourless gas that
turns lime
Water milky.
Colourless gas with rotten Presence of sulphide
Action of dil HCl : To 1 ml of the salt eggs smelling , turning lead
7 solution dil . Hcl is added acetate paper black on
warming is evolved

Colourless vapour smelling Presence of acetate

of vinegar

No characteristic change Absence of carbonate, sulphide, acetate.

 Colourless pungent Presence of chloride
smelling which turns blue
litmus paper red and gives
dense white fumes with a
Action of sulphuric acid : To 1 ml of rod dipped in NH4OH
salt solution con.sulphuric acid is
8 added and heated Red brown vapours turning Presence of Bromide
starch paper yellow
Violet vapours turning Presence of iodide
starch paper blue
No characteristic reaction Absence of chloride, Bromide, Iodide.

9 Action of sulphuric acid and Greenish yellow vapours Presence of chloride

manganese di oxide : A few drops of with an irritating smell
the salt solution is heated with MnO2 which turns starch iodide
and con. Sulphuric acid paper blue
Reddish brown vapours Presence of Bromide
Violet vapours Presence of iodide
No characteristic changes Absence of chloride , Bromide and Iodide
10 Copper turnings test: A small quantity Evolution of reddish brown Presence of nitrate
of the salt is heated with copper vapours
turnings and con sulphuric acid
No reddish brown gas is Absence of Nitrate
evolve
11 Chromyl Chloride test : Orange red vapours are Presence of chloride
1. To Pinch of the salt , evolved
potassium dichromate and conc. Yellow solution is obtained Presence of chloride
Sulphuric acid are added and
heated Yellow precipitate is Presence of chloride
The red vapours are passed through obtained
NaOH solution
To this solution lead acetate is added No characteristic change Absence of chloride
 12 Ammonium Molybdate test: To 1 ml
of salt solution con . nitric acid is Canary yellow precipitate Presence of phosphate
added and heated strongly until fume
ceases . Then Ammonium molybdate
is added No canary yellow Absence of phosphate
phosphate
13 Ethyl Acetate test: To few drops of pleasant fruity smell of presence of acetate
the sodium carbonate extract, a drop ester
of con. Sulphuric acid and 3 ml of
ethanol are added and heated in a
water bath . Then the mixture is
poured into a beaker with excess of
sodium carbonate
No pleasant fruity smell of Absence of acetate
ester
14 Barium Chloride test: To few drops White precipitate insoluble Presence of sulphate
of the sodium carbonate extract , add in dil. Hcl
dil HCl and Barium chloride
White precipitate soluble in Presence of phosphate and carbonate
dil. Hcl

No white precipitate Absence of Phosphate , carbonate, sulphate

Sodium Carbonate Extract:

Two parts of sodium carbonate and one part of the salt are added to distilled water and is heated . The resultant solution is filtered. The
filtrate is called sodium carbonate extract.

Confirmatory test for anions:

1 Test for carbonate : To a few drops of the extract add white precipitate soluble in Presence of carbonate
Barium chloride solution dil . HCl is formed
To few drops of the extract , add White precipitate soluble in Presence of carbonate
magnesium chloride. dil . HCl

No white precipitate soluble Absence of carbonate

in dil. Hcl

2 Test for sulphates: To a few drops of the extract , dil white precipitate soluble iln Presence of sulphate
acetic acid and lead acetate NaOH
solution are added
White precipitate insoluble in Presence of sulphate
dil. Hcl

3 Test for Sulphide : To a few drops of the extract dil Black precipitate Presence of sulphide
acetic acid and lead acetate
solutions are added Black precipitate Presence of sulphide
To a few drops of the extract dil.
Nitric acid and silver nitrate
solutions are added
To a few drops of the extract ,
sodium nitroprusside is added Violet colouration is obtained Presence of sulphide

No characteristic reaction Absence of sulphide

4 Test for nitrates To a few drops of the extract, dil. Brown ring at the junction of Presence of nitrates
Sulphuric acid is added and an the liquids
equal volume of ferrous sulphate is
added. Then con. Sulphuric acid is
added along the walls of the test
tube.

Blue colouration is obtained Presence of nitrate

To a few drops of the extract,
diphenylamine solution is added

5 Test for acetates To a few drops of the extract , a Fruity smell of esters is Presence of acetates
drop of con. Sulphuric acid and 3-4 obtained
ml of ethanol are added and heated
in a water bath . The solution is
poured into a beaker containing
sodium carbonate

To a few drops of the extract,

neutral ferric chloride is added Brown solution is obtained
which on heating gives a Presence of acetates
brown precipitate

6 Test for chlorides : To a few drops of the extract, dil. Curdy white precipitate Presence of chloride is
HNO3 followed by silver nitrate is soluble in NH4OH confirmed
added
Test for Cations
The salt is dissolved in water or another suitable solvent ( dil. Hcl in hot or cold conditions ) and the solution is used to identify the
group in which basic radical is present to perform the confirmatory tests .

Group analysis

Group 0 To 1 ml of the salt solution , few Reddish brown precipitate Presence of ammonium
drops of Nessler’s reagent and (NH4+ ) (zero group)
excess of sodium hydroxide are
added and heated
No reddish brown Absence of ammonium
precipitate

Group 1 To a few drops of salt solution dil. White precipitate Presence of lead
HCl is added

No white precipitate
Absence of lead (Pb2+) ( I
group)

Group 2 To a few drops of the salt solution Black precipitate Presence of lead or cupric
dil. HCl and yellow ammonium
sulphide are added
Yellow precipitate Presence of cadmium

No characteristic reaction Absence of Pb2+ , Cu2+ ,

Cd2+ ( II group)
 Group 3 To a few drops of the salt solution , Gelatinous white precipitate Presence of aluminium
Ammonium chloride, ammonium
hydroxide are added
Dirty green precipitate Presence of ferrous

Reddish brown precipitate Presence of ferric

No characteristic reaction Absence of Al3+, Fe2+,

Fe3+ (III group)

Group 4 To a few drops of the salt solution Dirty white precipitate Presence of zinc
add ammonium chloride ,
ammonium hydroxide and yellow
ammonium sulphide
Buff coloured precipitate Presence of Manganese

Black precipitate Presence of cobalt

No characteristic reaction Absence of Zn2+ , Mn2+ ,

Co2+ , Ni2+
( IV group )

Group 5 To a few drops of the salt solution White precipitate Presence of Barium or
ammonium chloride , ammonium Strontium or calcium
hydroxide and ammonium (V group)
carbonate are added
No white precipitate Absence of Barium ,
strontium ,calcium
If group 5 precipitate is indicated , confirm the presence of cations by performing confirmatory test for Ba2+ first ,
followed by Sr2+ , and then Ca2+ . If Ba2+ is confirmed , test for Sr2+ and Ca2+ need not be performed . If Sr2+ is confirmed,
test for ca2+ need not be performed .

Group 6 To a few drops of the salt solution White precipitate Presence of magnesium
ammonium chloride , ammonium
hydroxide and disodium hydrogen
phosphate are added
No white precipitate Absence of magnesium

Confirmatory tests for cations :

Test for lead ( I group ) To a few drops of the salt solution , Yellow precipitate is formed Presence of lead is
2 ml of potassium chromate solution confirmed
is added

Yellow precipitate which

dissolve in water on heating Presence of lead is
and reappears on cooling as confirmed
shiny golden

To a few drops of the salt solution, White precipitate which

dil. Sulphuric acid is added dissolves in water on Presence of lead is
heating and reappears on confirmed
cooling as needle like
crystals
Test for Aluminium ( III To a few drops of the salt solution , Gelatinous white precipitate Presence of Aluminium is
group) sodium hydroxide is added confirmed (III group)

Red lake Presence of aluminium is

To a few drops of the salt solution , confirmed
ammonium hydroxide solution and
aluminon reagent are added

Test for Zinc To a few drops of the salt solution , White precipitate soluble in Presence of Zinc is
( IV group) sodium hydroxide solution is added excess of NaOH confirmed

To a few drops of the salt solution, White precipitate Presence of Zinc is

potassium ferrocyanide solution is confirmed
added

Ash test: A filter paper is soaked into Green ash Presence of Zinc is
a mixture of salt solution and then confirmed (IV )
introduced into the Bunsen flame and
ignited

Test for Barium (V group ) To 1 ml of the salt solution , few

drops of potassium chromate white precipitate presence of Barium
solution , dil . sulphuric acid are
added

To 1 ml of the salt solution , dil. White precipitate insoluble in Presence of Barium is

Sulphuric acid is added mineral acids confirmed (V group)

Test for Strontium To 1 ml of the salt solution , white precipitate is formed presence of strontium is
(V group) (NH4)2SO4 is added and the confirmed
solution is warmed
Test for calcium (V group ) To 1 ml of the salt solution White precipitate Presence of calcium is
ammonium oxalate solution is added confirmed
To 1 ml of the salt solution White precipitate Presence of calcium is
potassium ferrocyanide solution is confirmed
added

Test for Magnesium To 1 ml of the solution , sodium White precipitate is formed Presence of magnesium is
(VI group) hydroxide solution is added confirmed

To a few drops of the salt solution , Blue lake Presence of magnesium is

magneson reagent is added confirmed

Pink ash
Ash test: A filter paper is soaked in Presence of magnesium is
a mixture of the salt solution and confirmed
cobalt nitrate solution and then
introduced into Bunsen flame and
ignited

Test for ammonium To 1 ml of the salt solution , few Reddish brown precipitate Presence of Ammonium is
(0 group) drops of Nessler’s reagent and confirmed
excess of sodium hydroxide are
added and heated
Result :
The given salt contains :
Acid radical :Basic radical : Therefore the given salt is ------------------
Salt analysis I
Aim: To identify the anion and cation present in the given simple salt by performing suitable tests

Preliminary tests for anions and cations

S.No. Experiment Observation Inference

1. The colour of the salt is noted Colourless May be pb2+ , Ca2+, Al3+,
Zn2+, Ba2+, Sr2+,Mg2+,NH4+
(1)
2. Solubility test: Soluble May be chloride , Iodide,
A pinch of the salt is made into solution with Nitrate, Sulphate, and
water ammonium carbonate.
(2)
3. Action of heat : A pinch of the salt is strongly Reddish brown vapours May be nitrate
heated in a dry boiling tube
May be lead nitrate
Decrepitation occurs with popping
sound (3)
4. Flame test: A Pinch of the salt is made into a No characteristic flame is observed Absence of Cu2+, Ba2+ ,
paste with con HCl in a watch glass and is Sr2+ , Ca2+ .
introduced into a non luminous Bunsen flame
using a charred matchstick
5. Ash test : A filter paper is soaked into a paste of No characteristic coloured ash is Absence of Zn2+ , Al3+ ,
the salt with dil .HNO3 and cobalt nitrate formed Mg2+ .
solution and introduced into the Bunsen flame
and ignited
6. Action of sodium hydroxide To 1 ml of the salt No characteristic gas is evolved Absence of ammonium
solution ,NaOH is added and heated salt
II Identification of Anions ( Acid radicals)
7. Action of dil HCl : To 1 ml of the salt solution dil No characteristic Absence of carbonate
. Hcl is added change sulphide and acetate .
8. Action of sulphuric acid : To 1 ml of salt No characteristic change Absence of chloride
solution con.sulphuric acid is added and heated
9. Action of sulphuric acid and manganese di No characteristic change Absence of chloride,
oxide : A few drops of the salt solution is heated bromide, iodide
with MnO2 and con. Sulphuric acid
10. Copper turnings test: A small quantity of the Reddish brown gas is evolved Presence of Nitrate
salt is heated with copper turnings and con
sulphuric acid (4)
11. Chromyl Chloride test : To Pinch of the salt , No orange red vapours observed Absence of chloride
potassium dichromate and conc. Sulphuric acid
are added and heated
12. Ammonium Molybdate test: To 1 ml of salt No canary yellow phosphate Absence of phosphate
solution con . nitric acid is added and heated
strongly until fume ceases . Then Ammonium
molybdate is added
13. Ethyl Acetate test: To few drops of the sodium No pleasant fruity smell of ester Absence of acetate
carbonate extract, a drop of con. Sulphuric acid
and 3 ml of ethanol are added and heated in a
water bath . Then the mixture is poured into a
beaker with excess of sodium carbonate
14. Barium Chloride test: To few drops of the No white precipitate Absence of phosphate ,
sodium carbonate extract , add dil HCl and Carbonate and sulphate
Barium chloride
Sodium Carbonate Extract : Two parts of the sodium carbonate and one part of the salt are added to distilled water and
heated. The resultant solution is cooled and filtered . The filtrate is called sodium carbonate extract
Confirmatory test for anions :

S.No. Experiment Observation Inference

1.Test for carbonate Carbonates: No white precipitate soluble Absence of carbonate
To a few drops of the salt in dil. Hcl
solution add Barium
chloride solution
2. Test for salphate To few drops of salt solution No white precipitate soluble Absence of sulphate
add magnesium chloride in dil. Hcl
solution

3 Test for Sulphide To a few drops of the extract No black precipitate Absence of sulphide
dil acetic acid is added and
then lead acetate solutions
are added

4. (a) Brown ring test : To a few drops of the extract Brown ring at the junction of Presence of nitrate is confirmed (5)
Test for nitrate , dil sulphuric acid is added the liquids
and and equal volume of
ferrous sulphate is added .
Then con. Sulphuric acid is
added along the walls of the
test tube

(b) To a few drops of the extract Blue colouration is obtained Presence of nitrate is confirmed (6)
, diphenylamine solution is
added
5. Test for Acetates : To a few drops of the No fruity smell of esters is Absence of acetate
extract, a drop of conc. obtained
Sulphuric acid and 3-4 ml of
ethanol are added and
heated in a water bath .The
solution is poured into a
beaker containing sodium
carbonate

6 Test for.Silver chloride test To a few drops of the No Curdy white precipitate Absence of chloride
extract, dil. HNO3 followed soluble in NH4OH is
by silver nitrate is added obtained

Test for cations :

The salt is dissolved in water or another suitable solvent ( dil. Hcl in hot or cold conditions ) and the solution is used to identify the group
in which basic radical is present to perform the confirmatory tests.

Group Analysis

Group Experiment Observation Inference

Zero To 1 ml of the salt solution , few drops No reddish brown precipitate Absence of zero group ammonium
of Nesslers reagent and excess of
sodium hydroxide are added and
heated
First To few drops of the salt solution dil White precipitate is formed Presence of lead (first group ) (7)
HCl is added
Confirmatory test for cations (Basic radicals)
1 To few drops of the salt solution , 2 ml Yellow precipitate is obtained Presence of lead is confirmed
of potassium chromate solution is ( I group )
added (8)
2 To few drops of the salt solution , Yellow precipitate which dissolve Presence of lead is confirmed
potassium iodide solution is added in water on heating and reappears
on cooling as shiny golden
(9)
3 To few drops of the salt solution dil. White precipitate which dissolves Presence of lead is confirmed
Sulphuric acid is added in water on heating and reappears
on cooling as needle like crystals
(10)

Result : The given salt contains

Acid Radical : nitrate

Basic Radical : lead
Therefore the given salt is lead nitrate
Salt analysis II
Aim: To identify the anion and cation present in the given simple salt by performing suitable tests
Preliminary tests for anions and cation

S.No. Experiment Observation Inference

1 The colour of the salt is noted Colourless May be pb2+ ,
Ca2+, Al3+, Zn2+,
Ba2+,
Sr2+,Mg2+,NH4+
(1)
2 Solubility test: Soluble May be chloride
A pinch of the salt is made into solution , Iodide, Nitrate,
with water Sulphate and
ammonium
carbonate. (2)
3 Action of heat : A pinch of the salt is No characteristic change Absence of Zn2+ ,
strongly heated in a dry boiling tube Cu2+ , Ni2+, Co32-
, NO3- , I-,

4 Flame test: A Pinch of the salt is made No characteristic flame is observed Absence of Cu2+,
into a paste with con HCl in a watch glass Ba2+ , Sr2+ , Ca2+
and is introduced into a non luminous .
Bunsen flame using a charred matchstick

5 Ash test : A filter paper is soaked into a No characteristic coloured ash is formed Absence of Zn2+ ,
paste of the salt with dil .HNO3 and cobalt Al3+ , Mg2+ , NH4+
nitrate solution and introduced into the
Bunsen flame and ignited
 6 Action of sodium hydroxide To 1 ml of No colourless pungent smelling gas is Absence of
the salt solution ,NaOH is added and evolved ammonium salt
heated

II Identification of Anions ( Acid radicals)

7 Action of dil HCl : To 1 ml of the salt solution dil . No characteristic Absence of
Hcl is added change carbonate,
sulphide, acetate
.
8 Action of sulphuric acid : To 1 ml of salt No characteristic change Absence of
solution con.sulphuric acid is added and heated chloride
,Bromide,Iodide.

9 Action of sulphuric acid and manganese di No characteristic change Absence of

oxide : A few drops of the salt solution is heated chloride,
with MnO2 and con. Sulphuric acid bromide, iodide

10 Copper turnings test: A small quantity of the salt No reddish brown gas is evolve Absence of
is heated with copper turnings and con sulphuric Nitrate
acid
11 Chromyl Chloride test : To Pinch of the salt , No characteristic change Absence of chloride
potassium dichromate and conc. Sulphuric acid
are added and heated

12 Ammonium Molybdate test: To 1 ml of salt No canary yellow phosphate Absence of phosphate

solution con . nitric acid is added and heated
strongly until fume ceases . Then Ammonium
molybdate is added

13 Ethyl Acetate test: To few drops of the sodium No pleasant fruity smell of ester Absence of acetate
carbonate extract, a drop of con. Sulphuric acid
and 3 ml of ethanol are added and heated in a
water bath . Then the mixture is poured into a
beaker with excess of sodium carbonate

14 Barium Chloride test: To few drops of the white precipitate insoluble in Presence of sulphate (3)
sodium carbonate extract , add dil HCl and dil.Hcl
Barium chloride
Sodium Carbonate Extract : Two parts of the sodium carbonate and one part of the salt are added to distilled water and heated. The
resultant solution is cooled and filtered . The filtrate is called sodium carbonate extract

CONFIRMATORY TEST FOR ANIONS :

1. Test for Carbonates To a few drops of the salt solution,add No white precipitate soluble Absence of carbonate
Barium chloride solution in dil. Hcl

2. Test for Sulphates: To a few drops of the extract, dil. Acetic White precipitate soluble in Presence of sulphate is
acid and lead acetate solution are NaOH confirmed (4)
added

3 Test for Sulphates To a few drops of the extract dil. Hcl White precipitate soluble in Presence of sulphate is
and Barium chloride are added NaOH confirmed (5)
4 Test for Sulphide To a few drops of the extract dil acetic No black precipitate Absence of sulphide
acid is added and then lead acetate
solutions are added

5 Brown ring test : To a few drops of the extract , dil No Brown ring at the Absence of nitrate
Test for nitrate sulphuric acid is added and and equal junction of the liquids
volume of ferrous sulphate is added .
Then con. Sulphuric acid is added
along the walls of the test tube

6 Test for Acetates : To a few drops of the extract, a drop of No fruity smell of esters is Absence of acetate
conc. Sulphuric acid and 3-4 ml of obtained
ethanol are added and heated in a
water bath .The solution is poured into
a beaker containing sodium carbonate
7 Test for Silver chloride test To a few drops of the No Curdy white precipitate Absence of chloride
extract, dil. HNO3 followed soluble in NH4OH is
by silver nitrate is added obtained

Tests for cations

Preparation of original solution : The salt is dissolved in water or another solvent ( dil. HCl in hot or cold conditions) and the
solution is used to identify the group in which basic radical is present to perform the confirmatory tests .

Group Analysis

S.No. Experiment Observation Inference

0 To 1 ml of the salt solution , No reddish brown precipitate Absence of ammonium
few drops of Nessler’s is formed (NH4+ )
reagent and excess of
sodium hydroxide are added
and heated

1 To a few drops of salt No white precipitate Absence of lead (I group)

solution dil. Hcl is added
2 To a few drops of the salt No black preicipitate Absence of lead or Cu2+ (II
group
solution dil . Hcl and yellow )
ammonium sulphide are
added No yellow precipitate Absence of cadmium (II
group)

3 To a few drops of the salt Gelatinous white precipitate Presence of aluminium

solution ammonium chloride (Al(OH)3) (Al3+) ( III group) (6)
and ammonium hydroxide
are added

Confirmatory test for cations :

To a few drops of the salt Gelatinous white precipitate Presence of Aluminium is

solution , sodium hydroxide confirmed (7)
solution is added

To a few drops of the salt Red lake Presence of aluminium (Al3+

solution , ammonium ) is confirmed (8)
hydroxide solution and
aluminon reagent are added
Result : The given salt contains
Acid Radical : Sulphate
Basic Radical : Aluminium

Therefore the given salt is Aluminium Sulphate

 Salt analysis – III
Aim: To identify the anion and cation present in the given simple salt by performing suitable tests
Preliminary tests for anions and cations

S.No. Experiment Observation Inference

1 The colour of the salt is noted Colourless May be pb2+ , Ca2+, Al3+, Zn2+,
Ba2+, Sr2+,Mg2+,NH4+ (1)
2 Solubility test: Soluble May be chloride , Iodide,
A pinch of the salt is made into solution with water Nitrate, Sulphate and
ammonium carbonate. (2)
3 Action of heat : A pinch of the salt is strongly White turns yellow May be Zinc (Zn2+ )(3)
heated in a dry boiling tube
4 Flame test: A Pinch of the salt is made into a paste No characteristic flame is Absence of Cu2+, Ba2+ , Sr2+ ,
with con HCl in a watch glass and is introduced into observed Ca2+ .
a non luminous Bunsen flame using a charred
matchstick
5 Ash test : A filter paper is soaked into a paste of the Green coloured ash Presence of Zinc ( Zn2+ )
salt with dil .HNO3 and cobalt nitrate solution and (4)
introduced into the Bunsen flame and ignited
6 Action of sodium hydroxide To 1 ml of the salt No characteristic gas is evolved Absence of ammonium salt
solution ,NaOH is added and heated
II Identification of Anions ( Acid radicals)
7 Action of dil HCl : To 1 ml of the salt solution dil . No characteristic Absence of carbonate,
Hcl is added change sulphide, acetate .
8 Action of sulphuric acid : To 1 ml of salt solution No characteristic change Absence of chloride
con.sulphuric acid is added and heated ,Bromide,Iodide.
9 Action of sulphuric acid and manganese di oxide : A No characteristic change Absence of chloride, bromide,
few drops of the salt solution is heated with MnO2 iodide
and con. Sulphuric acid
10. Copper turnings test: A small quantity of the salt is No reddish brown gas is evolve Absence of Nitrate
heated with copper turnings and con sulphuric acid
 11 Chromyl Chloride test : To Pinch of the salt , No orange red vapours are Absence of chloride
potassium dichromate and conc. Sulphuric acid are evolved
added and heated
12 Ammonium Molybdate test: To 1 ml of salt solution No canary yellow phosphate Absence of phosphate
con . nitric acid is added and heated strongly until
fume ceases . Then Ammonium molybdate is added
13 Ethyl Acetate test: To few drops of the sodium No pleasant fruity smell of ester Absence of acetate
carbonate extract, a drop of con. Sulphuric acid and 3
ml of ethanol are added and heated in a water bath .
Then the mixture is poured into a beaker with excess
of sodium carbonate
14 Barium Chloride test: To few drops of the sodium white precipitate insoluble in Presence of sulphate (5)
carbonate extract , add dil HCl and Barium chloride dil.Hcl

Sodium Carbonate Extract : Two parts of the sodium carbonate and one part of the salt are added to distilled water and heated. The
resultant solution is cooled and filtered . The filtrate is called sodium carbonate extract

CONFIRMATORY TEST FOR ANIONS :

1.Test for Carbonates To a few drops of the salt No white precipitate soluble in dil. Absence of carbonate
solution,add Barium chloride Hcl
solution

2. Test for Sulphates: To a few drops of the extract, dil. White precipitate soluble in NaOH Presence of sulphate is
Acetic acid and lead acetate confirmed (7)
solution are added
3. To a few drops of the extract dil. Hcl White precipitate soluble in NaOH Presence of sulphate is
and Barium chloride are added confirmed (8)

4 Test for sulphide To a few drops of the extract dil No black precipitate Absence of sulphide
acetic acid is added and then lead
acetate solutions are added

4. Brown ring test : To a few drops of the extract , dil No Brown ring at the junction of Absence of nitrate
Test for nitrate sulphuric acid is added and and the liquids
equal volume of ferrous sulphate is
added . Then con. Sulphuric acid is
added along the walls of the test tube

5. Test for Acetates : To a few drops of the extract, a drop No fruity smell of esters is Absence of acetate
of conc. Sulphuric acid and 3-4 ml of obtained
ethanol are added and heated in a
water bath .The solution is poured
into a beaker containing sodium
carbonate

6. Test for Silver chloride To a few drops of the extract, dil. No Curdy white precipitate Absence of chloride
HNO3 followed by silver nitrate is soluble in NH4OH is obtained
added

Tests for cations

Preparation of original solution : The salt is dissolved in water or another solvent ( dil. HCl in hot or cold conditions) and the solution is
used to identify the group in which basic radical is present to perform the confirmatory tests .
Group Analysis
S.No. Experiment Observation Inference
To 1 ml of the salt solution , few drops of No reddish brown precipitate Absence of ammonium
0 Nessler’s reagent and excess of sodium is formed (NH4+ )
hydroxide are added and heated

1 To a few drops of salt solution dil. Hcl is No white precipitate Absence of lead (I group)
added

2 To a few drops of the salt solution dil . Hcl No black preicipitate Absence of lead or Cu2+ (II
and yellow ammonium sulphide are added group )
No yellow precipitate Absence of cadmium (II
group)

3 To a few drops of the salt solution No characteristic reaction Absence of Al3+ , Fe2+ ,
ammonium chloride and ammonium Fe3+ (III group )
hydroxide are added

4 To a few drops of the salt solution Dirty white precipitate Presence of Zinc , (IV
Ammonium chloride , Ammonium group) (9)
hydroxide and yellow ammonium sulphide
are added

Confirmatory test for cations :

1 To a few drops of the salt solution , White precipitate soluble in Presence of zinc ( IV
sodium hydroxide solution is added excess NaOH group ) is
confirmed (10 )
 2 To a few drops of the salt solution , White precipitate is formed Presence of Zinc is
potassium ferrocyanide solution is added confirmed (11 )

3 Ash test : A filter paper is soaked into a Green ash Presence of Zinc is
mixture of salt solution and cobalt nitrate confirmed (12)
solution and then introduced into a
Bunsen flame

Result : The given sample salt contains :

Acid radical : Zinc
Basic radical : Sulphate
Therefore the given salt is zinc sulphate
 Salt analysis IV
Aim:
To identify the anion and cation present in the given simple salt by performing suitable tests

Preliminary tests for anions and cations

S.No. Experiment Observation Inference

1 The colour of the salt is noted Colourless May be pb , Ca2+, Al3+, Zn2+, Ba2+,
2+

Sr2+,Mg2+,NH4+ (1)
2 Solubility test: Soluble May be chloride , Iodide, Nitrate, Sulphate
A pinch of the salt is made into and ammonium carbonate.
solution with water (2)
3 Action of heat : A pinch of the salt is No characteristic change Absence of Zn2+ , Cu2+ , Ni2+, Co32- , NO3- ,
strongly heated in a dry boiling tube I-,
4 Flame test: A Pinch of the salt is Apple Green Presence of Barium (Ba2+)
made into a paste with con HCl in a
watch glass and is introduced into a
non luminous Bunsen flame using a
charred matchstick
(3)
5 Ash test : A filter paper is soaked into No characteristic ash Absence of Zn2+,
a paste of the salt with dil .HNO3 and Al3+, Mg2+
cobalt nitrate solution and introduced
into the Bunsen flame and ignited
6 Action of sodium hydroxide To 1 ml of No colourless pungent Absence of ammonium salt
the salt solution ,NaOH is added and smelling gas is evolved
heated
II Identification of Anions ( Acid radicals)
7 Action of dil HCl : To 1 ml of the salt No Absence of carbonate, sulphide, acetate .
solution dil . Hcl is added characteristic change
 8 Action of sulphuric acid : To 1 ml of Colourless pungent Presence of chloride
salt solution con.sulphuric acid is smelling which turns blue
added and heated litmus paper red and gives
dense white fumes with a
rod dipped in NH4OH (4)
9 Action of sulphuric acid and Greenish yellow vapours Presence of chloride
manganese di oxide : A few drops of with an irritating smell
the salt solution is heated with MnO2 which turns starch iodide (5)
and con. Sulphuric acid paper blue
10 Copper turnings test: A small quantity No reddish brown gas is Absence of Nitrate
of the salt is heated with copper evolve
turnings and con sulphuric acid
11 Chromyl Chloride test : Orange red vapours are Presence of chloride (6)
To Pinch of the salt , potassium evolved
dichromate and conc. Sulphuric
acid are added and heated
The red vapours are passed through Yellow solution is obtained Presence of chloride (7)
NaOH solution
To this solution lead acetate is added Yellow precipitate is Presence of chloride (8)
obtained
12 Ammonium Molybdate test: To 1 ml No canary yellow Absence of phosphate
of salt solution con . nitric acid is phosphate
added and heated strongly until fume
ceases . Then Ammonium molybdate
is added
13. Ethyl Acetate test: To few drops of No pleasant fruity smell of Absence of acetate
the sodium carbonate extract, a drop ester
of con. Sulphuric acid and 3 ml of
ethanol are added and heated in a
water bath . Then the mixture is
poured into a beaker with excess of
sodium carbonate
 14 Barium Chloride test: To few drops No white precipitate Absence of Phosphate , carbonate,
of the sodium carbonate extract , add sulphate
dil HCl and Barium chloride

Sodium Carbonate Extract:

Two parts of sodium carbonate and one part of the salt are added to distilled water and is heated . The resultant solution is filtered .
The filtrate is called sodium carbonate extract.
Confirmatory test for anions:

1 Test for carbonate : To a few drops of the extract add No white precipitate is Absence of carbonate
Barium chloride solution formed

2 Test for sulphates: To a few drops of the extract , dil No white precipitate Absence of sulphate
acetic acid and lead acetate solution
are added
3 Test for Sulphide : To a few drops of the extract dil acetic No black precipitate Absence of sulphide
acid and lead acetate solutions are
added

4. Test for nitrates To a few drops of the extract, dil. No brown ring at the Absence of nitrates
Sulphuric acid is added and an equal junction of the liquids
volume of ferrous sulphate is added.
Then con. Sulphuric acid is added
along the walls of the test tube.
5 Test for acetates To a few drops of the extract , a drop of No fruity smell of esters is Absence of acetates
con. Sulphuric acid and 3-4 ml of obtained
ethanol are added and heated in a
water bath . The solution is poured into
a beaker containing sodium carbonate

6 Test for chlorides : To a few drops of the extract, dil. Curdy white precipitate Presence of chloride is
HNO3 followed by silver nitrate is soluble in NH4OH confirmed ( 9)
added

Test for Cations

The salt is dissolved in water or another suitable solvent ( dil. Hcl in hot or cold conditions ) and the solution is used to identify the
group in which basic radical is present to perform the confirmatory tests .

Group analysis

0 To 1 ml of the salt solution , few drops No reddish brown precipitate Absence of ammonium
of Nessler’s reagent and excess of (NH4+ ) (zero group)
sodium hydroxide are added and
heated
1 To a few drops of salt solution dil. HCl No white precipitate Absence of lead (Pb2+) ( I
is added group)

2 To a few drops of the salt solution dil. No characteristic reaction Absence of Pb2+ , Cu2+ ,
HCl and yellow ammonium sulphide Cd2+ ( II group)
are added
3 To a few drops of the salt solution , No characteristic reaction Absence of Al3+, Fe2+,
Ammonium chloride, ammonium Fe3+ (III group)
hydroxide are added

4 To a few drops of the salt solution add No characteristic reaction Absence of Zn2+ , Mn2+ ,
ammonium chloride , ammonium Co2+ , Ni2+
hydroxide and yellow ammonium ( IV group )
sulphide

5 To a few drops of the salt solution White precipitate Presence of Barium or

ammonium chloride , ammonium Strontium or calcium
hydroxide and ammonium carbonate (V group) (10)
are added
If group 5 precipitate is indicated , confirm the presence of cations by performing confirmatory test for Ba2+ first , followed by Sr2+ , and
then Ca2+ . If Ba2+ is confirmed , test for Sr2+ and Ca2+ need not be performed . If Sr2+ is confirmed , test for ca2+ need not be
performed .
Confirmatory test for cations :

1 Test for Barium To 1 ml of the salt solution , few drops White precipitate is formed Presence of Barium is
of potassium chromate solution , dil. confirmed ( 11 )
Sulphuric acid is added
2 To 1 ml of the salt solution dil. White precipitate insoluble in Presence of Barium is
Sulphuric acid is added mineral acids confirmed ( V group ) (12)
Result : The given salt contains

Acid Radical : Chloride

Basic Radical : Barium
Therefore the given salt is Barium chloride
Salt analysis V
Aim:
To identify the anion and cation present in the given simple salt by performing suitable tests

Preliminary tests for anions and cations

S.No. Experiment Observation Inference

1 The colour of the salt is noted Colourless May be pb , Ca , Al3+, Zn2+, Ba2+,
2+ 2+

Sr2+,Mg2+,NH4+ (1)
2 Solubility test: Soluble May be chloride , Iodide, Nitrate, Sulphate
A pinch of the salt is made into solution and ammonium carbonate. (2)
with water
3 Action of heat: A pinch of the salt is No characteristic change Absence of Zn2+ , Cu2+ , Ni2+, Co32- , NO3- ,
strongly heated in a dry boiling tube I-,
4 Flame test: A Pinch of the salt is made Brick red Presence of Calcium (Ca2+)
into a paste with con HCl in a watch (3)
glass and is introduced into a non
luminous Bunsen flame using a
charred matchstick
5 Ash test : A filter paper is soaked into a No characteristic ash Absence of Zn2+,
paste of the salt with dil .HNO3 and Al3+, Mg2+
cobalt nitrate solution and introduced
into the Bunsen flame and ignited
6 Action of sodium hydroxide To 1 ml of No colourless pungent Absence of ammonium salt
the salt solution ,NaOH is added and smelling gas is evolved
heated
II Identification of Anions ( Acid radicals)

7 Action of dil HCl : To 1 ml of the salt No Absence of carbonate, sulphide, acetate .

solution dil . Hcl is added characteristic change
8 Action of sulphuric acid : To 1 ml of Colourless pungent Presence of chloride
salt solution con.sulphuric acid is smelling which turns blue (4)
added and heated litmus paper red and gives
dense white fumes with a
rod dipped in NH4OH
9 Action of sulphuric acid and Greenish yellow vapours Presence of chloride
manganese di oxide : A few drops of with an irritating smell (5)
the salt solution is heated with MnO2 which turns starch iodide
and con. Sulphuric acid paper blue
10. Copper turnings test: A small quantity No reddish brown gas is Absence of Nitrate
of the salt is heated with copper evolve
turnings and con sulphuric acid
11 Chromyl Chloride test : Orange red vapours are Presence of chloride
2. To Pinch of the salt , evolved (6)
potassium dichromate and conc.
Sulphuric acid are added and
heated
The red vapours are passed through Yellow solution is obtained Presence of chloride
NaOH solution (7)
To this solution lead acetate is added Yellow precipitate is Presence of chloride
obtained (8)
12 Ammonium Molybdate test: To 1 ml of No canary yellow Absence of phosphate
salt solution con . nitric acid is added phosphate
and heated strongly until fume ceases .
Then Ammonium molybdate is added
 13. Ethyl Acetate test: To few drops of the No pleasant fruity smell of Absence of acetate
sodium carbonate extract, a drop of ester
con. Sulphuric acid and 3 ml of ethanol
are added and heated in a water bath .
Then the mixture is poured into a
beaker with excess of sodium
carbonate
14 Barium Chloride test: To few drops of No white precipitate Absence of Phosphate , carbonate,
the sodium carbonate extract , add dil sulphate
HCl and Barium chloride

Sodium Carbonate Extract:

Two parts of sodium carbonate and one part of the salt are added to distilled water and is heated . The resultant solution is filtered .

The filtrate is called sodium carbonate extract.

Confirmatory test for anions:

1 Test for carbonate : To a few drops of the extract add Barium No white precipitate is Absence of carbonate
chloride solution formed

2 Test for sulphates: To a few drops of the extract , dil acetic No white precipitate Absence of sulphate
acid and lead acetate solution are added

3 Test for Sulphide : To a few drops of the extract dil acetic No black precipitate Absence of sulphide
acid and lead acetate solutions are
added
4. Test for nitrates To a few drops of the extract, dil. No brown ring at the Absence of nitrates
Sulphuric acid is added and an equal junction of the liquids
volume of ferrous sulphate is added.
Then con. Sulphuric acid is added along
the walls of the test tube.

5 Test for acetates To a few drops of the extract , a drop of No fruity smell of esters is Absence of acetates
con. Sulphuric acid and 3-4 ml of ethanol obtained
are added and heated in a water bath .
The solution is poured into a beaker
containing sodium carbonate

6 Test for chlorides : To a few drops of the extract, dil. HNO3 Curdy white precipitate Presence of chloride is
followed by silver nitrate is added soluble in NH4OH confirmed (9)

Test for Cations

The salt is dissolved in water or another suitable solvent ( dil. Hcl in hot or cold conditions ) and the solution is used to identify the
group in which basic radical is present to perform the confirmatory tests .

Group analysis

0 To 1 ml of the salt solution , few drops of No reddish brown precipitate Absence of ammonium
Nessler’s reagent and excess of sodium (NH4+ ) (zero group)
hydroxide are added and heated

1 To a few drops of salt solution dil. HCl is No white precipitate Absence of lead (Pb2+) ( I
added group)
2 To a few drops of the salt solution dil. HCl No characteristic reaction Absence of Pb2+ , Cu2+ ,
and yellow ammonium sulphide are added Cd2+ ( II group)

3 To a few drops of the salt solution , No characteristic reaction Absence of Al3+, Fe2+,
Ammonium chloride, ammonium hydroxide Fe3+ (III group)
are added

4 To a few drops of the salt solution add No characteristic reaction Absence of Zn2+ , Mn2+ ,
ammonium chloride , ammonium hydroxide Co2+ , Ni2+
and yellow ammonium sulphide ( IV group )

5 To a few drops of the salt solution White precipitate Presence of Barium or

ammonium chloride , ammonium hydroxide Strontium or calcium
and ammonium carbonate are added (V group) (10)

If group 5 precipitate is indicated , confirm the presence of cations by performing confirmatory test for Ba2+ first , followed by Sr2+ ,

and then Ca2+ . If Ba2+ is confirmed , test for Sr2+ and Ca2+ need not be performed . If Sr2+ is confirmed , test for ca2+ need not be
performed .

1 Test for Barium To 1 ml of the salt solution , few drops of No white precipitate Absence of Barium
potassium chromate solution , dil .
sulphuric acid are added

2 Test for Strontium To 1 ml of the salt solution , No white precipitate is Absence of strontium
(NH4)2SO4 is added and the solution formed
is warmed
 3 Test for calcium To 1 ml of the salt solution ammonium White precipitate Presence of calcium is
oxalate solution is added confirmed (11)

4 To 1 ml of the salt solution potassium White precipitate Presence of calcium is

ferrocyanide solution is added confirmed (12)

Result :

The given salt contains :

Acid radical : Chloride
Basic radical : calcium
Therefore the given salt is Calcium Chloride