SALT ANALYSIS

Cations:- Pb2+, Cu2+, As3+, Al3+, Fe3+, Mn2+ , Zn2+, Co2+, Ni2+, Ca2+, Sr2+, Ba2+, Mg2+, NH4+

Q1. What is the difference between a qualitative and quantitative analysis?

Answer. The primary distinction between qualitative analysis and quantitative analysis in chemistry is
that qualitative chemistry determines the presence or absence of various chemical components in a
sample, whereas quantitative chemistry determines the amount of various chemical components
present in a given sample.

Q2. What is Qualitative Analysis?

Answer. Qualitative analysis is an Analytical chemistry method for determining the elemental
composition of inorganic salts. It is primarily concerned with the detection of ions in a salt aqueous
solution.

The standard method for testing any unknown sample is to make a solution of it and then test it with
various reagents for the ions present in it. Testing with different reagents yields a characteristic reaction
of certain ions, which can be a colour change, a solid formation, or any other visible changes.

Q3. Can we use a glass rod instead of platinum wire for performing the flame test? Explain your
answer.

Answer. No, we cannot use a glass rod instead of platinum wire for performing the flame test. This is
because platinum is unreactive and does not produce a colour in the flame that masks the presence of
other metals.

Q4. Why is platinum metal preferred to other metals for the flame test?

Answer. Platinum is chemically inert, which means it does not react with other elements to form oxides
or other compounds. When performing a flame test, this stability is desirable because it ensures that
we only see the spectrum of what we are burning.

Q5. What is the characteristic colour of cations of iron?

Answer. The characteristic colour of cations of iron is light green, yellow and brown.

Q6. What is the characteristic colour of Cu2+?

Answer. The characteristic colour of Cu2+ is blue.

Q7. What is the characteristic colour of Ni2+?

Answer. The characteristic colour of Ni2+ is bright green.

Q8. What is the characteristic colour of Co2+?

Answer. The characteristic colour of Co2+ is blue, red, violet and pink.

Q9. What is the characteristic colour of Mn2+?

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Answer. The characteristic colour of cations of Mn2+ is light pink.

Q10. Which colour of the flame is observed through the naked eye for Ca2+?

Answer. Brick red

Q11. The green flame with a blue centre is given by which cation?

Answer. Cu2+

Q12. Analysis of which group cation gives white fumes in the confirmatory test?

Zero group cation NH4+.

Answer. Ammonia gas produced by the action of sodium hydroxide on ammonium salts reacts with
hydrochloric acid to produce ammonium chloride, which appears as a dense white fume.

Q13. What is Nessler’s reagent?

Answer. Nessler’s reagent is a solution of mercury (II) iodide (HgI2) in potassium iodide (KI) and
potassium hydroxide (KOH).

As a confirmatory test for ammonium ion NH4+, Nessler’s reagent is used.

The presence of NH4+ ion is confirmed by the presence of brown or yellow precipitate.

Q14. What is the name of the product formed by reacting NH4+ ions with Nessler’s Reagent?

Answer. HgO. Hg(NH2)I basic mercure (II) amido-iodine. Iodide of Millon’s base is its common
name.

Q15 What is the observation for confirmatory tests for Group – I cation Pb2+?

Answer. Add potassium iodide solution to one part of the solution in a test tube. If a yellow precipitate
forms and the ppt dissolves in boiling water and recrystallizes on cooling. This will confirm the
presence of Pb2+.

Q16. What is the group reagent of Group I?

Answer. Dilute HCl.

Q17. How can you confirm that the cation in the given salt is Cu2+?

Answer. H2S gas will be made to pass through the solution which will precipitate the radicals.

Dissolve the precipitate in nitric acid. If the formed precipitate dissolves in 50% nitric acid, yielding a
blue solution when an excess of NH4OH is added. This will confirm the presence of Cu2+.

Q18. What is the group reagent of Group II?

Answer. This group consists of Pb2+ and Cu2+ in the IIA Group and As3+ in the IIB Group. The group
reagent is H2S gas in the presence of dil. HCl

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Q19. What is the group reagent of Group III?

Answer. Group III cations are precipitated as hydroxides by adding ammonium hydroxide in the
presence of ammonium chloride. Thus, in the presence of NH4Cl, the group reagent for this group is
NH4OH.

Q20. What is the colour of the precipitate formed when ferric hydroxide is dissolved in HCl?

Answer. The reddish-brown precipitate (ferric chloride- FeCl3) is formed when ferric hydroxide is
dissolved in HCl

Q21. What is the group reagent of Group IV?

Answer. CO2+, Ni2+, Mn2+, and Zn2+ are the radicals found in this group. On passing H2S gas through
the salt’s ammonical solution, these are precipitated as sulphides. Thus, the group’s reagent is H2S gas
in the presence of NH4Cl and NH4OH.

Q22. How will you confirm the presence of Cobalt ion?

Answer. React the given salt with potassium nitrite in the presence of acetic acid. If the precipitate
formed is yellow it will confirm the presence of cobalt ions. The yellow precipitate is of potassium
cobalt nitrite.

Q23. How will you analyse for Group IV cations?

Answer. If group-III is not present, pass H2S gas through the group-III solution for a few minutes. If
a precipitate (white, black, or flesh-coloured) appears, it indicates the presence of group-IV cations.

Q24. What is the borax bead test?

Answer. When powdered borax, Na2B4O7 •10H2O, is heated vigorously in a Bunsen burner flame, it
forms a colourless transparent glassy bead known as a borax bead, which is composed of sodium meta
borate (NaBO2) and boric oxide (B2O3). A borax bead is used to detect metals in a solution.

Q25. Why is the borax bead test not applicable in the case of white salts?

Answer. White salts do not give rise to coloured meta-borates.

Q26. Why is the original solution for cations not prepared in conc. HNO3 or H2SO4?

Answer. Since concentrated HNO3 acid is a very strong oxidising and nitrating agent, the original
solution is not prepared in it. When nitric acid is used for salt analysis, the conc. HNO3 in the solution
can oxidise the ions present.

Concentrated H2SO4 has dehydrating properties, it can be used not only as an acid but also as a
dehydrating agent in the synthesis of other acids.

Q27. Why cannot conc. HCl is used as a group reagent in place of dil. HCl for the precipitation
of Ist group cations?

Answer. The conc. HCl is Not used because high concentrations of ions increase the solubility of
group I chloride precipitate through the formation of soluble complex ions.

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Q28. How can one prevent the precipitation of Group–IV radicals, with the second group
radicals?

Answer. In the presence of HCl , H2S is passed in the qualitative analysis of cations from the second
group. The ionisation of H2S decreases and lessens as a result of the common ion effect.

Q29. Why is it essential to boil off H2S gas before precipitation of radicals of the group–III?

Answer. The solution is boiled with conc. nitric acid prior to precipitation of group III cations. If H2S
is not boiled off, it will react with HNO3 and oxidise to colloidal sulphur, interfering with further
analysis.

Q30. Can we use ammonium sulphate instead of ammonium chloride in the group–III?

Answer. In group 3, we cannot use ammonium sulphate instead of ammonium chloride due to the
precipitation of Sulphate (SO42–), such as BaSO4, which may interfere with the systematic
investigation of the salt.

Q31. Why is NH4OH added before (NH44)2CO3 solution while precipitating group–V cations?

Answer. In salt analysis, a sufficient amount of NH4Cl is added before adding

This is done to convert NH4HCO3, which is usually present in large quantities into (NH4)2CO3.

Q32. What is aqua regia?

Answer. Aqua regia is a 3:1 by volume mixture of concentrated HCl and concentrated HNO3.

Q33. Name a cation, which is not obtained from a metal.

Answer. Ammonium ion (NH4+).

Q34. Why are the group–V radicals tested in the order Ba2+, Sr2+ and Ca2+?

Answer. Ba2+ also gives Sr2+ and Ca2+ tests. Sr2+ also provides Ca2+ tests. Therefore, before confirming
Sr2+, we must demonstrate the absence of Ba2+, and before confirming Ca2+, we must demonstrate the
absence of both Ba2+ and Sr2+.

Q35. Why should the solution be concentrated before proceeding to the group–V?

Answer. Before moving on to group 5, the solution is concentrated by adding an excess of NH4Cl to
ensure that the ionic product of group 6 cation, Mg2+, does not exceed its solubility product and thus
does not precipitate with group 5 cations.

Q36. What do you understand by the term common ion effect?

Answer. The common ion effect describes the effect on equilibrium that occurs when a common ion
(an ion already present in the solution) is added to it. In general, the common ion effect reduces a
solute’s solubility. It can also have an effect on buffering solutions, as adding more conjugate ions can
cause the pH of the solution to change.

Anions:- (CO3)2–, S2–, (SO3)2–, (SO4)2–, (NO2)–, (SO4)2–, Cl–, Br–, I–, PO43–, (C2O4)2–, CH3COO–, NO3–

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Q1. What is a radical?

Answer. A radical is an atom or group of atoms that carries charge and behaves as if it were a single
unit in chemical reactions.

Q2. What are acidic and basic radicals?

Answer. Acidic radicals are negatively charged anions. For example, SO42–, NO3–, and so on.
Positively charged cations are basic radicals. For example, Na+, Fe2+, and so on.

Q3. Explain the value of preliminary tests in qualitative analysis.

Answer. Preliminary tests can sometimes provide accurate information about an ion in salt. The
presence of sodium, for example, is indicated by a golden yellow colour in a flame test. Brown residue
in a charcoal cavity test indicates the presence of cadmium in salt, and so on.

Q4. Name the anions detected with the help of dilute H2SO4?

Answer. CO32–, S2–, SO32–, NO2–.

Q5. Why is dilute H2SO4 preferred over dilute HCl while testing anions?

Answer. When the salt is treated with HCl, HCl gas is produced along with the salt gas during the
reaction. As a result, the actual gas cannot be identified, whereas H2SO4 does not have this problem.

Q6. Why does a lead-containing salt turn black after a long period of time in a laboratory?

Answer. Due to the formation of black lead sulphide in the atmosphere as a result of H2S action

Q7. Name the anions detected by conc. H2SO4.

Answer. Cl–, Br–, I–, NO3–, CH3COO–.

Q8. Name the radicals which are confirmed with the help of sodium carbonate extract.

Answer. S, Cl–, Br–, I–, PO43–, SO32–, SO42–.

Q9. How is sodium carbonate extract prepared?

Answer. The salt is combined with double the amount of solid Na2CO3 and approximately 20 ml of
distilled water. It is then boiled until it is reduced to one-third of its original volume and filtered. The
filtrate is either sodium carbonate extract or a mixture of the two (S.E.).

Q10. What is water extract?

Answer. The given salt or mixture is thoroughly shaken with distilled water before being filtered. The
filtrate is either the water extract or a mixture of the two (W.E.).

Q11. What is lime water and what happens on passing carbon dioxide gas through it?

Answer. Lime water is a solution of Ca(OH)2 in water. Carbon dioxide reacts with limewater (a
calcium hydroxide solution, Ca(OH)2 to form a white precipitate (a milky precipitate) of calcium
carbonate, CaCO3.

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Q12. Carbon dioxide gas and sulphur dioxide gas both turn lime water milky. How will you
distinguish between the two?

Answer. Both the solution will be passed through a solution of acidified K2Cr2O7.

SO2 causes K2Cr2O7 to turn green, whereas CO2 has no effect.

Q13. How will you test the presence of carbonate ions?

Answer. Using dil. H2SO4, treat a small portion of the mixture. CO2 gas is produced. The gas becomes
milky after passing through lime water.

Q14. CO2 and Br2 are both brown in colour. How are you going to tell them apart?

Answer. On passing both the solutions through a FeSO4 filter.

CO2 darkens FeSO4 solution whereas Br2 has no effect.

Q15. What is lime water?

Answer. Lime water is a solution of Ca(OH)2 in water.

Q16. What happens if too much CO2 is passed through lime water?

Answer. Because the white ppt. of CaCO3 dissolves into soluble calcium bicarbonate, the milkiness
disappears.

CaCO3 + CO2 +H2O → Ca(HCO3)2

Q17. How do you test for sulphide?

Answer. Warm the salt with a small amount of H2SO4. H2S gas is formed. It blackens paper that has
been dipped in lead acetate.

Na2S +2HCl → 2NaCl +H2S

Pb(CH3COO)2 +H2S → PbS + 2CH3COOH

Q18. Is there another gas besides CO2 that causes lime water to turn milky?

Answer. It is, indeed, SO2 gas.

Q19. On heating with a cone, all nitrates are released. In the presence of a paper pallet,
H2SO4 produces NO2 gas.

Answer. HNO3 is reduced to NO2 by using a carbon-based paper pallet.

Q20. How will you determine whether the solution in the bottle is lime water?

Answer. Fill a test tube with 2 ml of the solution and blow into it with a glass tubing. The presence of
milkiness indicates that the solution is lime water.

Q21. How is the ring test for nitrates carried out?

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Answer. Freshly prepared ferrous sulphate solution is added to the salt solution, followed by
concentrated sulphuric acid along the tube walls. At the intersection of the two solutions, a dark brown
ring forms.

Q22. What is the composition of the dark brown ring which is formed at the junction of two
layers in the ring test for nitrates?

Answer. A brown ring is typically formed at the interface of sulphuric acid and ferrous sulphate. This
ring indicates that nitrates are present in the given solution. The brown ring test, also known as the
nitrate test, is a reduction reaction. Ferrous (II) reduces the nitrate to nitric oxide, which is then oxidised
to ferrous (III).

Q23. In the ring test for nitrates, why does a dark brown ring form at the junction of two layers?

Answer. Since H2S04 is heavier and reacts with a small amount of nitrate and FeSO4 at its surface, a
brown ring appears only at the junction of the two layers.

Q24. What is the chromyl chloride test?

Answer. Heat a small portion of the mixture with a cone. In a dry test tube, combine H2SO4 and solid
K2Cr2O7. Chromyl chloride vapours of a deep brownish-red colour are formed. Pass these vapours
through the water. H2CrO4 yellow solution is formed. When NaOH, acetic acid, and lead acetate are
added to this solution, a yellow ppt. confirms the presence of chloride in the mixture.

Q25. What is the chemistry behind the carbon disulphide test for bromide or iodide?

Answer. Add dil. HCl to a portion of the soda extract. Now, add a small amount of CS2 and an excess
of chlorine water to this and thoroughly shake the solution. Chlorine removes bromine or iodine from
bromide or iodide, which then dissolves in carbon disulphide to produce orange or violet colouration.

Q26. Why do bromides and iodides not give tests similar to chromyl chloride tests?

Answer. Since chromyl bromide (CrO2Br2) and chromyl iodide (CrO2I2) compounds are not formed,
bromine and iodine are evolved in their place.

Q27. Describe the layer test for bromide and iodide ions.

Answer. The Layer’s test is performed in the presence of ‘dilute hydrochloric acid’ and ‘carbon
disulphide.’ In the presence of bromide ions, this results in an orange layer, whereas in the presence of
iodide ions, a violet layer forms. The layer’s test is used to confirm the presence of halogens in a
mixture.

Q28. Why is silver nitrate solution stored in dark coloured bottles?

Answer. Silver nitrate decomposes when exposed to sunlight; therefore, silver nitrate is stored in
brown bottles to prevent decomposition. Brown bottles cut the passage of light through them.

Q29. How do you test the presence of sulphide ions?

Answer. The reaction of hydrogen sulphide gas with warm dilute H2SO4 a sulphide produces
hydrogen sulphide gas, which smells like rotten eggs. When exposed to the gas, a piece of filter paper

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dipped in lead acetate solution turns black due to the formation of lead sulphide, which is black in
colour.

Q30. Why does iodine give a blue colour with the starch solution?

Answer. The blue colour is caused by iodine’s physical adsorption on starch.

Download Class 12 Chemistry Viva questions on Determination of Anions in a Given Salt by

clicking on the button below.

What is Salt Analysis?

Salt analysis (also known as systematic qualitative analysis or qualitative inorganic analysis) involves
the identification of the cation and anion of an inorganic salt. This is done by conducting a series of
tests in a systematic manner and using the observations to confirm the absence or presence of specific
cations and anions. Salt analysis is an integral part of the CBSE Class 12 Chemistry practical
examinations and is a topic that several students struggle with. Therefore, we at BYJU’S have
channelled our efforts into explaining this topic in a manner that is easy to understand and remember.
If questions like “How to do salt analysis?” and “How to remember salt analysis procedures easily?”
are puzzling you, look no further! This article also touches on certain tricks and shortcuts that students
can employ to quickly analyze their assigned salts in their chemistry practical examinations.

In the examination, students will receive an inorganic salt whose chemical composition they must
identify. This can be done by individually identifying the cation and the anion of the salt.

Step-by-Step Process for Salt Analysis

 Step 1: Obtain the inorganic salt whose cation and anion you must identify.

 Step 2: Conduct preliminary tests for the anion group-wise until you obtain a positive result.
Anions and cations are classified into groups that share the same group reagent and therefore,
have similar preliminary tests.

 Step 3: Once you get a positive result for a preliminary test for an anion, conduct a
confirmatory test for that anion. (If you get a positive result, move on to step 4. If you don’t,
go back to conducting preliminary tests for anions.)

 Step 4: Conduct preliminary tests for cations group-wise until you obtain a positive result.

 Step 5: Once a positive result is obtained, conduct a confirmatory test for that cation.

 Step 6: Now that the cation and the anion are identified, obtain the chemical formula of the
salt by balancing the charges of the cation and anion. For example, if your cation is Fe 3+ and
your anion is Cl–, the chemical formula of the salt will be FeCl3.

Note: You can also identify the cation first and then move on to identifying the anion.

Recommended Videos

Salt Analysis Concept Booster

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Salt Analysis Concept Booster

Salt Analysis Answer Format (Sample)

A sample answer format for salt analysis is provided below.

Aim: To identify the acidic radical and the basic radical of the given inorganic salt.

Apparatus Required: Fill as per requirement.

Procedure:

(i) Preliminary Test for Anion:

Experiment Observation Inference

(ii) Confirmatory Test for Anion:

Experiment Observation Inference

(iii) Preliminary Test for Cation:

Experiment Observation Inference

(iv) Confirmatory Test for Cation:

Experiment Observation Inference

Result: The acidic radical is (anion), and the basic radical is (cation).

Therefore, the given salt is identified to be (salt).

Tricks and Shortcuts for Salt Analysis

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 Inorganic Salt Cation

Blue Cu2+

Deep blue Co2+ (anhydrous salt)

Greenish-blue Cu2+ (hydrated salt)

Green Ni2+ (hydrated salt)

Light green Fe2+

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Yellow, brown, or yellowish-brown Fe3+

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.

 Ba2+, Sr2+, Pb2+, and Ca2+ do not form salts with the sulphate anion (SO42-).

 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.

List of Common Cations (Basic Radicals) for Salt Analysis

*Note: Multiple Ions belonging to the same group have the same preliminary test but different
confirmatory tests.

Group Cations

Group 0 NH4+

Group 1 Pb2+

Group 2 Cu2+

Group 3 Fe3+, Fe2+, Al3+

Group 4 Co2+, Mn2+, Ni2+, Zn2+

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Group 5 Ba2+, Ca2+, Sr2+

Group 6 Mg2+

List of Common Anions (Acidic Radicals) for Salt Analysis

Group Anions

Group 1 CO32-, NO2–, SO32-, S2-

Group 2 Cl–, Br–, I–, CH3COO–, NO3–, C2O42-

Group 3 PO43-, SO42-

Preliminary Test for Anions

In salt analysis, preliminary tests for anions are conducted group-wise to find the anion of the salt.
After getting a positive preliminary test for an anion, a confirmatory test must be conducted to confirm
the presence of that anion in the salt.

Preliminary Test for Group 1 Anions

Experiment: Add a few drops of dilute H2SO4 (sulphuric acid) to a small quantity of the salt in a test
tube (If nothing happens, move on to preliminary test for group 2 anions).

Anion Positive Result

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 (sulphuric acid) to it (If nothing happens, move on to preliminary test for group 2 anions).

Anion Positive Result

White, pungent-smelling fumes that intensify when a glass rod dipped

Chloride (Cl–)
in ammonium hydroxide is brought to the mouth of the test tube

Bromide (Br–) Reddish-brown fumes

Iodide (I–) Violet fumes

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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 carbon

Oxalate (C2O4–)
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 sulphate (MgSO4) to

Carbonate (CO32-) Formation of a white precipitate.
the water extract of the salt

Formation of a white precipitate

Add aqueous barium chloride (BaCl2) which disappears when diluting
Sulphite (SO32-)
to the water extract hydrochloric acid (HCl) is
added.

(i) Add sodium nitroprusside to the (i) The solution turns purple or
water extract violet
Sulphide (S2-)
(ii) Add aqueous lead acetate to the (ii) Formation of a black
water extract precipitate

Boil a mixture of the water extract and

dilute H2SO4. Now add solid The solution develops a deep
Nitrite (NO2–)
potassium iodide and starch solution to blue colour
it

Formation of a white precipitate

Add silver nitrate (AgNO3) to the
Chloride (Cl–) which is soluble in ammonium
water extract
hydroxide (NH4OH)

Formation of a yellow
–
Bromide (Br ) Add silver nitrate to the water extract precipitate which is partially
soluble in ammonium hydroxide

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 Formation of a yellow
Iodide (I–) Add silver nitrate to the water extract precipitate which is insoluble in
NH4OH

Mix the water extract with iron (II)

Formation of a brown ring at the
sulphate solution (FeSO4) and add one
Nitrate (NO3–) junction of the acid and the
drop of concentrated nitric acid
solution.
(HNO3) along the side of the test tube.

Add concentrated H2SO4 and some Development of a fruity smell

Acetate (CH3COO–)
ethanol to the salt. (due to the formation of an ester)

Add acetic acid and calcium chloride Formation of a white precipitate

Oxalate (C2O4–) to the water extract and boil the that dissolves upon the addition
solution. of dilute HNO3

Formation of a white precipitate

Add aqueous barium chloride (BaCl2) which is insoluble in
Sulphate (SO42-)
to the water extract concentrated hydrochloric acid
(HCl)

Add dilute nitric acid (HNO3) and

ammonium molybdate ((NH4)2MoO4) Formation of a yellow,
Phosphate (PO43-)
to the water extract and boil the crystalline precipitate
resulting solution.

Shortcut: Ammonium bromide (NH4Br) is the most common salt containing the bromide ion in
school laboratories. If you confirm the presence of bromide ions in the salt, you can immediately try
a confirmatory test for the ammonium cation (NH4+)

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.

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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 original solution.

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.

Cation Positive Result

Cobalt (Co2+) and Nickel (Ni2+), conduct both

Formation of a black precipitate
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.

Cation Positive Result

Barium
A yellow precipitate is formed when K2CrO4 is added to the solution.
(Ba2+)

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Strontium
A white precipitate is formed when aqueous (NH4)2SO4 is added to the solution.
(Sr2+)

Calcium A white precipitate is formed when aqueous (NH4)2C2O4 (ammonium oxalate) and
(Ca2+) NH4OH are added to the solution.

Confirmatory Tests for Cations

Cation Confirmatory Test Positive Observation

Ammonium Add sodium hydroxide to the original solution Formation of a yellow or brown
(NH4+) and treat it with Nessler’s reagent (K2HgI4) precipitate

(i) Add potassium iodide (KI) to the original

solution Formation of a yellow precipitate
Lead (Pb2+)
(ii) Add potassium chromate (K CrO ) to the (for both the tests)
2 4
original solution

In the preliminary test, a black precipitate is

obtained from the addition of dilute HCl and
Copper (Cu2+) H2S to the original solution. Isolate the black A blue coloured solution is formed
precipitate and add excess ammonium
hydroxide to it

Add concentrated nitric acid to the original

solution and heat it. A brown precipitate will
Iron (Fe3+) A blue precipitate is formed
form. Add HCl and potassium ferrocyanide
(K4[Fe(CN)6]) to it

A gelatinous white precipitate is obtained when

NH4Cl and excess NH4OH are added to the
Aluminium A floating, blue layer is formed on
original solution. Isolate the precipitate and
(Al3+) the surface of the clear solution
dissolve it in HCl. Now add blue litmus and
NH4OH to it drop-by-drop

Add solid NH4Cl and excess NH4OH to the

original solution and pass H2S gas through it.
Cobalt (Co2+) Dissolve the resulting blue residue in water and A yellow precipitate is obtained.
add dilute CH3COOH and KNO2 to it. Now
warm the mixture.

Add solid NH4Cl and excess NH4OH to the

Nickel (Ni )2+ original solution and pass H2S gas through it. A black precipitate is formed
Dissolve the resulting yellow residue in water
(you will now obtain a green-coloured

15
 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 turns brown or black when bromine
(Mn2+)
H2S. 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.

Flame test: Make a paste of the salt by mixing Ba2+: Green-coloured flame
Barium (Ba2+),
it with a few drops of concentrated
Strontium
hydrochloric acid. Now skim off some of the Sr2+: Crimson red flame
(Sr2+), and
paste with a glass rod and expose it to a Bunsen
Calcium (Ca2+) Ca2+: Brick red flame
Burner’s flame.

Add NH4Cl, (NH4)3PO4 (ammonium

Magnesium
phosphate) and excess NH4OH to the original A white precipitate is obtained.
(Mg2+)
solution.

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