OUR OWN HIGH SCHOOL, DUBAI

DEPARTMENT OF CHEMISTRY
GENERAL SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS FOR STUDENTS USING CHEMISTRY LABORATORY

The chemistry laboratory can be a place of discovery and learning. However, by the very nature of laboratory
work, can be place of danger if proper precautions aren’t taken.
Attire:
Lab coats with full sleeves made to your measurements and safety goggles must be worn at all times in the
laboratory.
Conduct:
Eating and drinking are strictly prohibited in the laboratory.
No unauthorized experiments are to be performed. Consult your teacher if you are curious about an
experiment.
Never taste anything. Never directly smell the source of any vapour or gas; instead by means of your cupped
hand, waft a small sample to your nose. Do not inhale these vapours but take only enough to detect an odour
if one exists.
Always wash your hands before leaving the lab.
Learn where the safety and first-aid equipment are located. This includes fire extinguishers, fire blankets and
eye wash stations.
Notify your teacher immediately in case of an accident.
Proper Handling of Chemicals and Equipment
Consider all chemicals to be hazardous unless you are instructed otherwise.
Know what chemicals you are using. Carefully read the label twice before taking anything from the bottle.
Excess reagents are never to be returned to stock bottles. If you take too much, dispose of the excess.
Many common reagents, for example, alcohols and acetone, are highly flammable. Do not use them
anywhere near open flames.
If chemicals come into contact with your skin or eyes, flush immediately with lot of water and talk to your
teacher.
Never point a test tube or any vessel that you are heating at yourself or your neighbor – it may erupt like a
geyser.
Never leave burners unattended. Turn them off whenever you leave the work station.
Leaving the lab:
Students have to leave all the apparatus they had used in their respective places after cleaning them. The
work table is to be maintained and left clean for the next batch. Also make sure all the reagent bottles are in
the right order.
Mr. Hilal Yusuf
Dept. of Chemistry

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 OUR OWN HIGH SCHOOL, DUBAI
DEPARTMENT OF CHEMISTRY
SCHEME OF SIMPLE SALT ANALYSIS
AIM: To analyse for the presence of cation and anion in the given simple salt.
S. No EXPERIMENT OBSERVATION INFERENCE
I. PRELIMINARY TESTS
1. Note the colour of the salt. 1. Blue Can be Cu2+ or Co2+
2. Light green Can be Fe2+
3. Dark green Can be Co2+ or Ni2+
4. Pale pink Mn2+
5. Yellow or brown Fe3+
6. White Indicates the absence of Cu2+ ,
Co2+ , Fe2+ , Ni2+ , Mn2+ etc
2. Check solubility of the salt in Soluble The salt solution (original
water. solution- O.S) is prepared in
water.
3. Mix a little of the salt with few Smell of vinegar Indicates the presence of
drops of dil. H2SO4 on a watch acetate ion.
glass with the help of a glass rod
and note the odour of the No smell of vinegar Absence of acetate ion
mixture.
II. IDENTIFICATION OF ANIONS
1. Dilute H2SO4 test: To a little of the a) Brisk effervescence with the a) Indicates the presence of
salt, dil. H2SO4 is added and liberation of colourless and carbonate ion, CO3 2-
heated (if there is no reaction in odourless gas which when
the cold) passed into lime water turns it
milky.
b) Colourless gas with a smell of b) Indicates the presence of
rotten eggs. sulphide ion, S 2-
c) No characteristic reaction c) Absence of CO3 2- and S 2-
2. Conc.H2SO4 Test: To a little of the a) A colouless pungent smelling a) Presence of chloride ion, Cl-.
salt, conc.H2SO4 is added and gas is evolved which turns into
heated (if there is no reaction in dense white fumes when a glass
cold). rod dipped in ammonium
hydroxide is held at the mouth
of the test tube.
b) Dense orange brown gas with b) Presence of bromide ion, Br-.
an irritating smell is evolved.
c) Violet colored gas is evolved. c) Presence of iodide ion, l-.
d) Colourless gas with a smell of d) Presence of acetate ion,
vinegar evolved. CH3COO--.
e) Light brown gas is evolved e) Presence of nitrate ion, NO3- .
that turns dense brown when a
paper ball is added.
f) No characteristic reaction f) Absence of Cl-, Br-, I-, CH3COO-
and NO3- ions.

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3. Test for Sulphate: To a little of the a) White precipitate is formed. Presence if sulphate ion, SO4 2-
salt solution, add dil. HCl followed
by BaCl2 solution. b) No ppt Absence of sulphate ion.
4. Test for phosphate: To a little of a) Presence of yellow Presence of phosphate ion,
the salt solution add conc.HNO3, colouration or a yellow ppt. PO4 3-
boil, cool and add ammonium
molybdate (solid or solution) and b) No yellow ppt Absence of phosphate ion
warm.
III. CONFIRMATORY TEST FOR ANIONS
Confirmatory Test for Carbonate
ion
a) A little of the salt solution is a) A white precipitate is formed Presence of carbonate ion
treated with BaCl2 solution. which is soluble in dil.HCl or confirmed.
HNO3.
b) To a little of the salt solution, b) A white precipitate is formed. Presence of carbonate ion
MgSO4 solution is added. confirmed.
Confirmatory Test for Chloride
ion
a) To a little of the salt solution add a) White ppt is formed which Presence of chloride confirmed.
dil. HNO3 followed by AgNO3 dissolves in excess of
solution. ammonium hydroxide.
b) Chromyl Chloride Test: b) A yellow coloured solution is Presence of chloride confirmed.
To a little of the salt add equal formed which gives a yellow ppt
quantity of solid potassium with acetic acid and lead
dichromate and Conc. H2SO4. Heat acetate solution.
the contents gently and pass the
red vapours obtained through a
dilute solution of NaOH.
Confirmatory Test for Acetate ion
a) To a little of the salt solution add a) Reddish brown colour Presence of acetate confirmed.
neutral FeCl3 solution, dilute it, appears with FeCl3 and reddish-
and heat it to boiling point. brown precipitate on boiling.
b) Heat a pinch of salt with few b) Pleasant fruity smell Presence of acetate confirmed.
drops of Conc. H2SO4 and a little
ethyl alcohol.
Confirmatory Test for Nitrate ion
a) BROWN RING TEST a) A brown ring is formed at the Presence of nitrate confirmed.
To the salt solution add equal junction of the two liquids
amount of freshly prepared
saturated ferrous sulphate
solution, mix and allow to stand.
Then add slowly 1-2 mL of Conc.
H2SO4 carefully down the side of
the test tube.
b) To a little of the salt solution, add b) Blue colouration Presence of nitrate confirmed.
diphenylamine reagent.

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 Confirmatory Test for Sulphate
ion
a) To a little of the salt solution add a) White ppt is formed Presence of sulphate confirmed.
acetic acid followed by lead
acetate solution.
b) To the above precipitate, add b) The precipitate dissolves. Presence of sulphate confirmed.
excess of ammonium acetate
solution.
Confirmatory Test for phosphate
ion
a) To a little of the salt solution add a) A white ppt is formed Presence of phosphate
NH4OH solution till it just becomes confirmed.
alkaline. To this solution, add
CaCl2 solution.
b) To the above white ppt, add dil. b) It dissolves Presence of phosphate
HCl confirmed.
IV. IDENTIFICATION OF CATIONS
1. Test for zero group: To a little of a) Colourless gas with a pungent Indicates presence of NH4+
the salt, add NaOH and heat the smell of NH3 is evolved. It gives
mixture. dense white fumes when a glass
rod dipped in conc. HCl is held
at the mouth of the test tube.
b) No pungent smell of Absence of zero group.
ammonia.
2. Test for group I: To the salt a) A white ppt is formed Indicates presence of group I
solution, add dil. HCl. cation – Pb2+
b) No white ppt Absence of group I cation
3. Test for group II: To the salt a) Brown- black ppt Indicates presence of Cu2+
solution, add dil. HCl followed by b) Yellow ppt Indicates presence of Cd2+
H2S water. c) Black ppt Indicates presence of Pb2+
d) No ppt Absence of group II cations.
4. Test for group III: To the salt a) A white gelatinous precipitate Indicates presence of Al3+
solution, add excess solid NH4Cl, is formed.
dissolve it, then add NH4OH b) Reddish brown ppt Indicates presence of Fe3+
solution. c) No ppt Absence of group III cations
5. Test for group IV: To the salt a) Black ppt Indicates presence of Ni2+ or
solution, add excess solid NH4Cl, b) Buff coloured ppt Co2+
dissolve it, then add NH4OH c) white/dirty white ppt Indicates presence of Mn2+
solution followed by H2S water. d) No ppt Indicates presence of Zn2+
Absence of group IV cations.
6. Test for group V: To the salt a) A white ppt is formed Indicates presence of group V
solution, add excess solid NH4Cl, cations – Ba2+, Sr2+ or Ca2+
dissolve it, then add NH4OH
solution followed by (NH4)2CO3 b) No ppt Absence of group V cations.
solution.
7. Test for group VI: To the salt White ppt is formed Indicates presence of group VI
solution, add excess solid NH4Cl, cation – Mg2+
dissolve it, then add NH4OH
solution followed by (NH4)3PO4 or
Na2HPO4 solution.
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 CONFIRMATORY TESTS FOR CATIONS

CONFIRMATORY TESTS - ANALYSIS OF GROUP ZERO CATION – NH4+

EXPERIMENT OBSERVATION INFERENCE
1. To the salt solution, add 2-3 An orange – brown ppt is Presence of NH4+ confirmed.
drops of NaOH followed by formed.
Nessler’s reagent.

CONFIRMATORY TESTS - ANALYSIS OF GROUP I CATION – Pb2+

EXPERIMENT OBSERVATION INFERENCE
1. To the salt solution, add A yellow ppt is formed. Presence of Pb2+confirmed.
potassium chromate solution.
2. To the salt solution, add few A yellow ppt is formed. Presence of Pb2+confirmed.
drops of potassium iodide
solution.

CONFIRMATORY TESTS - ANALYSIS OF GROUP III CATION – Al3+

EXPERIMENT OBSERVATION INFERENCE
1. To the salt solution, add NaOH A white ppt is formed which Presence of Al3+ confirmed.
solution in drops. dissolves in excess of NaOH.
2. LAKE TEST: To the salt A blue ppt floating on clear Presence of Al3+ confirmed.
solution, add blue litmus liquid.
followed by NH4OH solution.
3. ASH TEST: The gelatinous Blue tinted ash is obtained. Presence of Al3+ confirmed.
white ppt of group III is
dissolved in a small volume of
conc. HNO3 and boiled with a
few drops of cobalt nitrate
solution. A folded filter paper
soaked in this solution is burnt
into ashes.

CONFIRMATORY TESTS - ANALYSIS OF GROUP IV CATION – Zn2+

EXPERIMENT OBSERVATION INFERENCE
1. To the salt solution, add NaOH A white ppt is formed which Presence of Zn2+ confirmed.
drop by drop. dissolves in excess of NaOH.
2. To the salt solution, add A white or bluish-white ppt is Presence of Zn2+ confirmed.
potassium ferrocyanide formed.
solution.

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CONFIRMATORY TESTS - ANALYSIS OF GROUP V CATION – Ba2+, Sr2+ , Ca2+
The white ppt obtained in group V is dissolved in minimum amount of acetic acid and the resulting solution is
divided into three parts.
EXPERIMENT OBSERVATION INFERENCE
1. Test for Barium: Yellow ppt is formed. Presence of Ba2+ confirmed.
To the first part, add
potassium chromate solution.

Flame Test: Pale green colour imparted to Presence of Ba2+ confirmed.

Little of the salt is mixed with the flame.
conc. HCl on a watch glass.
The mixture is then shown to
the non- luminous flame using
a glass rod.
2. Test for Strontium: White ppt is formed. Presence of Sr2+ confirmed.
To the second part, add
saturated (NH4)2SO4 solution
and boil.

Flame Test: Crimson red colour imparted to Presence of Sr2+ confirmed.

Little of the salt is mixed with the flame.
conc. HCl on a watch glass.
The mixture is then shown to
the non- luminous flame using
a glass rod.
3. Test for Calcium: White crystalline ppt insoluble in Presence of Ca2+ confirmed.
To the third part, add NH4OH acetic acid.
and ammonium oxalate
solution.

Flame Test:
Little of the salt is mixed with Brick red colour imparted to the Presence of Ca2+ confirmed.
conc. HCl on a watch glass. flame.
The mixture is then shown to
the non- luminous flame using
a glass rod.
A white ppt is formed. Presence of Ca2+ confirmed.
To a little of the salt solution,
add solid NH4Cl and potassium
ferrocyanide solution.

CONFIRMATORY TESTS - ANALYSIS OF GROUP VI CATION – Mg2+

EXPERIMENT OBSERVATION INFERENCE
1. To the salt solution, add A green or bluish-green colour is Presence of Mg2+ confirmed.
Magneson reagent. obtained.

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