IDENTIFICATION

OF ANIONS
 What is Salt Analysis?

Salt analysis (also known as systematic qualitative

analysis or qualitative inorganic analysis) involves the
identification of the cation(positive) and
anion(negative) 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.
 Confirmatory Test for Anion
• Note: Water extract of the salt can be prepared by dissolving a pinch of the
inorganic salt in a few drops of water.
SL. CONFIRMATORY
ANION POSITIVE OBSERVATION
NO TEST
Add magnesium
sulphate (MgSO4) to
1. Carbonate (CO32-) Formation of a white precipitate.
the water extract of
the salt
Add aqueous barium Formation of a white precipitate
2. Sulphite (SO3 )
2-
chloride (BaCl2) to the which disappears when diluting
water extract hydrochloric acid (HCl) is added.
(i) Add sodium
nitroprusside to the (i) The solution turns purple or
water extract violet
3. Sulphide (S2-)
(ii) Add aqueous lead (ii) Formation of a black
acetate to the water precipitate
extract
 Add concentrated Development of a
4. Acetate (CH3COO ) –
H2SO4 and some ethanol fruity smell (due to the
to the salt. formation of an ester)
Formation of a white
Add acetic acid and calcium precipitate that
5. Oxalate (C2O4–) chloride to the water extract dissolves upon the
and boil the solution. addition of dilute HNO3
Formation of a white
Add aqueous barium precipitate which is
6. Sulphate (SO42-) chloride (BaCl2) to the insoluble in
water extract concentrated
hydrochloric acid (HCl)
Add dilute nitric acid
(HNO3) and ammonium
Phosphate (PO43-) Formation of a yellow,
7. molybdate ((NH4)2MoO4) to
crystalline precipitate
the water extract and boil
the resulting solution.
 Boil a mixture of the water extract
and dilute H2SO4. Now add solid The solution develops a deep
8. Nitrite (NO2–)
potassium iodide and starch blue colour
solution to it
Formation of a white
Add silver nitrate (AgNO3) to the precipitate which is soluble in
9. Chloride (Cl–) ammonium hydroxide
water extract
(NH4OH)

Formation of a yellow
precipitate which is partially
10. Bromide (Br–) Add silver nitrate to the water extract
soluble in ammonium
hydroxide
Formation of a yellow
11. Iodide (I–) Add silver nitrate to the water extract precipitate which is insoluble in
NH4OH

Mix the water extract with iron (II)

sulphate solution (FeSO4) and add Formation of a brown ring at
12. Nitrate (NO3 )–
one drop of concentrated nitric acid the junction of the acid and the
(HNO3) along the side of the test solution.
tube.
 Confirmatory Test for cation
SL. POSITIVE
CATION CONFIRMATORY TEST
NO OBSERVATION
Add sodium hydroxide to the Formation of a
1. Ammonium (NH4 ) +
original solution and treat it with yellow or brown
Nessler’s reagent (K2HgI4) precipitate
(i) Add potassium iodide (KI) to
the original solution Formation of a
2. Lead (Pb )
2+
(ii) Add potassium chromate yellow precipitate
(K2CrO4) to the original solution (for both the tests)

In the preliminary test, a black

precipitate is obtained from the
addition of dilute HCl and H2S to A blue coloured
3. Copper (Cu2+)
the original solution. Isolate the solution is formed
black precipitate and add excess
ammonium hydroxide to it
 Add concentrated nitric acid to the
original solution and heat it. A brown A blue
4. Iron (Fe )
3+ precipitate will form. Add HCl and precipitate is
potassium ferrocyanide (K4[Fe(CN)6]) to formed
it
A gelatinous white precipitate is
obtained when NH4Cl and excess NH4OH A floating, blue
Aluminium are added to the original solution. layer is formed
5. (Al3+) Isolate the precipitate and dissolve it in on the surface
HCl. now add blue litmus and NH4OH to of the clear
solution
it drop-by-drop
Add solid NH4Cl and excess NH4OH to
the original solution and pass H2S gas
A yellow
6. Cobalt (Co2+) through it. Dissolve the resulting blue precipitate is
residue in water and add dilute obtained.
CH3COOH and KNO2 to it. Now warm the
mixture.
 Add solid NH4Cl and excess
NH4OH to the original solution
and pass H2S gas through it.
Dissolve the resulting yellow A black precipitate is
7. Nickel (Ni2+)
residue in water (you will now formed
obtain a green-coloured
solution). Add NaOH and bromine
water to this mixture and boil it.

To the skin-coloured precipitate Formation of a

obtained in the preliminary test, white precipitate
8. Manganese that turns brown or
(Mn2+) add dilute HCl and boil off the
H2S. Now add NaOH. black when bromine
water is added

Add NaOH (in excess) to the The white

9. Zinc (Zn2+) greyish-white precipitate precipitate is
obtained in the preliminary test. dissolved
 Flame test: Make a paste of
the salt by mixing it with a Ba2+: Green-
Barium (Ba2+), few drops of concentrated coloured flame
10. Strontium (Sr2+), hydrochloric acid. Now take Sr2+: Crimson red
and Calcium off some of the paste with a flame
(Ca2+) glass rod and expose it to a Ca2+: Brick red
Bunsen Burner’s flame. flame

Add NH4Cl,
(NH4)3PO4 (ammonium A white
Magnesium
11. (Mg2+) phosphate) and excess precipitate is
NH4OH to the original obtained.
solution.