SYSTEMATIC PROCEDURE FOR SIMPLE SALT ANALYSIS

EXPERIMENT OBSERVATION INFERENCE

I PRELIMINARY TESTS
1 Colour Colourless May be due to lead, ammonium,
aluminium, zinc, magnesium, barium
salts
Brown May be due to ferric salt
Pale green May be due to ferrous salt
Blue May be due to cupric salt
Dark green May be due to cupric or nickel salts
Pale pink May be due to manganese salts
2 Appearance Crystalline solid
May be due to chloride, bromide, iodide,
sulphate, nitrate, sulphite, acetate salts
Amorphous solid May be due to carbonate and sulphide
salts
3 Solubilty:A pinch of the Water soluble
May be due to chloride, bromide, iodide,
sample was taken in a test
sulphate, nitrate, sulphite, acetate salts
tube and shaken with 2mL
of water Water insoluble May be due to carbonate and sulphide
salts
4 Action of heat:A small Reddish brown gas with fishy odour
amount of the sample is evolved, turning starch iodide paper blue Presence of nitrate
taken in a dry test tube and
heated strongly Colourless, odourless gas evolved, turning
Presence of carbonate
lime water milky
Blue colour of the substance turned white
Presence of copper sulphate
Reddish brown gas with fishy odour
Presence of lead nitrate
evolved with crackling sound
Colourless gas with pungent smell evolved
and deposited as white solid on the cooler Presence of ammonium salt
parts of the test tube
Yellow when hot and white when cold Presence of zinc salt
No characteristic change
Absence of nitrate, carbonate, CuSO4,
Pb(NO3)2, ammonium, zinc salts
5 Flame Test:A small Bluish green flame Presence of cupric salt
quantity of the sample was Apple green coloured flame Presence of barium salt
taken ina watch glass and 2 Brick red coloured flame Presence of calcium salt
drops of conc. HCl was Crimson red coloured flame Presence of strontium salt
added to make a paste of it . No characteristic coloured flame Absence of cupric, barium, calcium,
The paste was taken in a strontium salts
charred tip of the splinter
and shown to non-luminous
flame

6 Ash test:To a small portion Thenard's blue coloured ash was obtained
Presence of aluminium salt
of the salt soln., 1mL of
cobalt nitrate soln and few Rinmann's green coloured ash was Presence of zinc salt
drops conc. Nitric acid were obtained
added. A filter paper was
soaked in this soln. and
burnt to ashes.
6 Ash test:To a small portion
of the salt soln., 1mL of
cobalt nitrate soln and few
drops conc. Nitric acid were
added. A filter paper was
soaked in this soln. and
burnt to ashes.
Rinmann's green coloured ash was
obtained
Pink coloured ash was obtained
No characteritic coloured ash
Presence of zinc salt
Presence of magnesium salt
Absence of aluminium, zinc, magnesium
salt

II SYSTEMATIC ANALYSIS OF ANIONS

1 Dil HCl test: To a small Colourless, odourless gas evolved with a
quantity of the sample, 1mL brisk effervescence, turning lime water Presence of carbonate salts
of dil. HCl was added milky
Colourless gas with rotten egg smell
evolved, turning lead acetate paper black Presence of sulphide salts

Colourless, odourless gas with suffocating

smell evolved, turning acidified potassium
Presence of sulphite salts
dichromate paper green

No characteristic change Absence of carbonate, sulphide, sulphite

salts
2 Conc. H2SO4 test: To a Colourless gas with irritating smell
small quantity of the evolved, gigving dense white fumeswith a Presence of chloride
substance, 1mL of conc. glass rod dipped in NH4OH
Sulphuric acid was added A reddish brown gas with irritating smell
and heated evolved, turning starch iodide paper first Presence of bromide
blue and then yellow
Violet vapour evolved, turning starch
Presence of iodide
iodide paper blue
A reddish brown gas with fishy odour
Presence of nitrate
evolved, turning starch iodide paper blue
Absence of chloride, bromide, iodide,
No chracteristic change nitrate salts
3 MnO2 test: To a small A greenish yellow gas evolved, turning
quantity of the sample, a starch iodide paper first blue then Presence of chloride
pinch of MNO2 was added colourless
followed by the addidtion of
1mL conc. H2SO4 and No chracteristic change Absence of chloride
heated strongly

4 Copper turning test: To a

small quantity of the
substance, a copper turning
and 1mL conc. H2SO4
were added and heated
strongly
A reddish brown gas with fishy odour
Presence of nitrate
evolved, turning starch iodide paper blue.
The Colour of the soln. turned green
No chracteristic change Absence of nitrate

5 Chromyl chloride test: To Red vapour of chromyl chloride evolved

a small quantity of the
sample, a pinch of
crystalline potassium
dichromate, 1mL conc.
H2SO4 were added and
heated strongly
giving yellow soln. on passing to NaOH
Presence of chloride
soln. On adding lead acetate soln., yellow
precipitate was obtained
No characteristic change Absence of chloride
5 Chromyl chloride test: To
a small quantity of the
sample, a pinch of
crystalline potassium
dichromate, 1mL conc.
H2SO4 were added and No characteristic change Absence of chloride
heated strongly

III ANALYSIS USING SODIUM CARBONATE EXTRACT

PREPARATION OF SODIUM CARBONATE EXTRACT:
To 1g of the substance, 3g of sodium carbonate and 5mL of water was added and boiled for about 5 minutes and
then centrifuged. The clear solution (centrifugate) is the required sodium carbonate extract, using which the
following tests wre carried out

1 Silver nitrate test: to 1mL Curdy white precipitate was obtained

of the Na2CO3 extract dil.
HNO3 was added till
effervescence ceases and
then 1mL of AgNO3 soln.
was added
2 Barium chloride test: To
1mL of the Na2CO3 extract
dil. HCl was added till
effervescence ceases and
then 1mL of BaCl2 solution
was added
which is completely soluble in excess of Presence of chloride
NH4OH
Pale yellow precipitate was obtained
which is partially soluble in excess of Presence of bromide
NH4OH
Yellow precipitate was obtained which is
Presence of iodide
insoluble in excess of NH4OH
Absence of chloride, bromide, iodide
No characteristic change
salts
White precipitate was obtained which is
Presence of sulphate
insoluble in hot conc. HCl acid
White precipitate was obtained which is
Presence of sulphite
soluble in hot conc. HCl acid
No characteristic change Absence of sulphate and sulphite

3 Lead acetate test: To 1mL White precipitate was obtained which is

Presence of sulphate
of the Na2CO3 extract dil. soluble in excess of ammonium acetate
Acetic acid was added till
Black precipitate was obtained Presence of sulphide salts
effervescence ceases and
1mL of lead acetate soln.
No characteristic change Absence of sulphate and sulphide
was added

4 Brown ring test: To 1mL

of the Na2CO3 extract dil.
Brown ring was obtained at the junction of
H2SO4 was added till Presence of nitrate
two layers
effervescence ceases and
equal volume of freshly
prepared FeSO4 soln. was
added, followed by the
addition of 1mL of conc. No characteristic change Absence of nitrate
H2SO4 along the sides of
the test tube.

5 Sodium nitroprusside test:

To 1mL of the Na2CO3 Violet colouration was seen Presence of sulphide salts
extract, 1mL of sodium
nitroprusside soln. was
added No characteristic change Absence of sulphide
5 Sodium nitroprusside test:
To 1mL of the Na2CO3
extract, 1mL of sodium
nitroprusside soln. was
added No characteristic change Absence of sulphide

6 Acidified KMnO4 test: To

1mL of the Na2CO3
Purple colour of KMnO4 was discharged Presence of sulphide salts
extract, dil. H2SO4 was
added till effervescence
ceases and a few drops of
acidified KMnO4 soln. was
added No characteristic change Absence of sulphide

7 Chlorine water test: To

Yellow colouration was seen Presence of bromide
1mLm of the Na2CO3
extract, 1mL of chlorine
Violet colouration was seen Presence of iodide
water was added
No characteristic change Absence of bromide and iodide

IV SYSTEMATIC ANALYSIS OF CATIONS

TEST FOR ZERO GROUP CATION
1 NaOH test: To a small
quantity of the given
Colourless gas with pungent smell
sample, 1mL of NaOH soln.
evolved, giving dense white fumes with a Presence of ammonium salt
was added and warmed
glass rod dipped in conc. HCl acid

2 Nessler's Reagent test: To

the above mixture, 1mL of
Nessler's reagent was added Brown precipctate was obtained Presence of ammonium salt confirmed

V PREPARATION OF SALT SOLUTION

For water-soluble salts: Dissolve a small quantity of the substance in 5 mL of water
For water-insoluble salts: Dissolve a small quantity of the substance in 2 mL of dil. HCl
GROUP IDENTIFICATION
1 Test for group I cation:
White precipitate was obtained Presence of group I cation
To 1ml of the salt soln.,
1mL of dil. HCl was added
No characteristic change Absence of group I cation

2 Test for group II cation:

To the above mixture of Black precipitate was obtained Presence of group II cation
group I, 1mL of H2S soln.
was added
No characteristic change Absence of group II cation

3 Test for group III cation:

Green / Brown / Gelatinous whie
To 1mL of the salt soln., Presence of group III cation
precipitate was obtained
1mL each of NH4OH and
NH4Cl solns were added
No characteristic change Absence of group III cation

4 Test for group IV cation:

Dirty / Buff / Black precipitate was
To the above mixture of Presence of group IV cation
obtained
group III, 1mL of H2S soln
was added
 4 Test for group IV cation:
Dirty / Buff / Black precipitate was
To the above mixture of Presence of group IV cation
obtained
group III, 1mL of H2S soln
was added
No characteristic change Absence of group IV cation

5 Test for group V cation:

To 1mL of the salt soln., White precipitate was obtained Presence of group V cation
1mL each of NH4Cl ,
Nh4OH and (NH4)2CO3
solns were added No characteristic change Absence of group V cation

6 Test for group VI cation:

To 1mL of the salt soln., White precipitate was obtained Presence of group VI cation
1mL each of NH4Cl ,
NH4OH and Na2HPO4
solns were added No characteristic change Absence of group VI cation

VI CONFIRMATORY TESTS FOR CATIONS

PRECIPITATE OF SOLVENT USED TO DISSOLVE THE PRECIPITATE
1 Group I Hot water
2 Group II 10 drops of conc. HNO3 , heated and then diluted
3 Group III Dilute HCl
4 Group IV 10 drops of conc. HNO3 , heated and then diluted
5 Group V Dilute acetic acid
6 Group VI No solvent used

ANALYSIS OF GROUP I CATION

1 To 1mL of the salt soln.,
1mL of dil. H2SO4 was
White precipitate was obtained Presence of Pb^2+ confirmed
added

2 To 1mL of the salt soln.,

1mL of potassium chromate
Yellow precipitate was obtained Presence of Pb^2+ confirmed
soln. was added

3 To 1mL of the salt soln.,

Yellow precipitate was obtained which
1mL of potassium iodide
dissolved on heating and reappeared as Presence of Pb^2+ confirmed
soln. was added
golden yellow spangles on cooling

4 To 1mL of the salt soln.,

1mL of H2S soln. was
Black precipitate was obtained Presence of Pb^2+ confirmed
added

ANALYSIS OF GROUP II CATION

1 To 1mL of the salt soln.,
excess of NH4OH soln. was
Deep blue coloured soln. was obtained Presence of Cu^2+ confirmed
added

2 To 1mL of the salt soln.,

1mL of potassium
ferrocyanide soln. was Reddish brown precipitate was obtained Presence of Cu^2+ confirmed
added
 2 To 1mL of the salt soln.,
1mL of potassium
ferrocyanide soln. was Reddish brown precipitate was obtained Presence of Cu^2+ confirmed
added

ANALYSIS OF GROUP III CATION

IF GREEN PRECIPITATE WAS OBTAINED,
1 To 1mL of the salt soln.,
1mL of acidified KMnO4
Pink colour of KMnO4 was discharged Presence of Fe^2+ ions confirmed
soln was added

2 To 1mL of the salt soln.,

1mL of potassium
ferricyanide soln was added Deep blue coloured soln. was obtained Presence of Fe^2+ ions confirmed

IF BROWN PRECIPITATE WAS OBTAINED,

1 To 1mL of the salt soln.,
1mL potassium thiocyanate
soln. was added Blood red coloured soln. was obtained Presence of Fe^3+ ions confirmed

2 To 1mL of the salt soln.,

1mL of potassium
Prussian blue coloured precipitate was
ferrocyanide soln. was Presence of Fe^3+ ions confirmed
obtained
added

IF GELATINOUS WHITE PRECIPITATE WAS OBTAINED,

1 To 1mL of the salt soln.,
1mL each of NH4OH and
aluminon reagent was added Bright red lake was obtained Presence of Al^3+ ions confirmed

2 To 1mL of the salt soln., a

few drops of NaOH soln White precipitate was obtained which
Presence of Al^3+ ions confirmed
was added dissolves on adding excess of NaOH soln

3 Ash test:To a small portion

of the salt soln., 1mL of
cobalt nitrate soln and few
drops conc. Nitric acid were
Thenard's blue coloured ash was obtained Presence of Al^3+ ions confirmed
added. A filter paper was
soaked in this soln. and
burnt to ashes.

ANALYSIS OF GROUP IV CATIONS

IF BLACK PRECIPITATE WAS OBTAINED,
1 To 1mL of the original salt
soln., 1mL of ammonium
hydroxide and 1mL of
Pink coloured precipitate was obtained Presence of Ni^2+ ions confirmed
dimethyl glyoxime solutions
were added
 1 To 1mL of the original salt
soln., 1mL of ammonium
hydroxide and 1mL of
Pink coloured precipitate was obtained Presence of Ni^2+ ions confirmed
dimethyl glyoxime solutions
were added

IF BUFF COLOURED PRECIPITATE WAS OBTAINED,

1 The precipitate of group IV
was centrifuged and to it ,
1mL of conc. Nitric acid
was added , followed by the Purple coloured solution was obtained Presence of Mn^2+ ions confirmed
addition of a pinch of
sodium bismuthate

IF DIRTY WHITE PRECIPITATE WAS OBTAINED,

1 To 1mL of the salt soln., a
few drops of NaOH soln White precipitate was obtained which
Presence of Zn^2+ ions confirmed
was added dissolves on adding excess of NaOH soln

2 To 1mL of the original

soln., 1mL of potassium
ferrocyanide soln. was Greenish white precipitate was obtained Presence of Zn^2+ ions confirmed
added

3 Ash test:To a small portion

of the salt soln., 1mL of
cobalt nitrate soln and few
drops conc. Nitric acid were Rinmann's green coloured ash was
Presence of Zn^2+ ions confirmed
added. A filter paper was obtained
soaked in this soln. and
burnt to ashes.

ANALYSIS OF GROUP V CATIONS

1 To 1mL of the salt soln.,
Yellow precipitate was obtained Presence of Ba^2+ ions confirmed
1mL of potassium chromate
soln. was added
No yellow precipitate was obtained Absence of Sr^2+/Ca^2+ ions

2 To 1mL of the salt soln., Presence of Ba^2+/Sr^2+ ions

White precipitate was obtained
1mL of ammonium sulphate confirmed
was added
No white precipitate was obtained Absence of Ca^2+ ions

3 To 1mL of the salt soln.,

1mLof ammonium oxalate Presence of Sr^2+/Ca^2+ ions
White precipitate was obtained
soln. was added confirmed

ANALYSIS OF GROUP VI CATIONS

1 To 1mL of the salt soln., a
few drops of NaOH soln White precipitate was obtained which
Presence of Mg^2+ ions confirmed
was added dissolves on adding excess of NaOH soln

2 Ash test:To a small portion Pink coloured ash was obtained Presence of Mg^2+ ions confirmed
of the salt soln., 1mL of
cobalt nitrate soln and few
drops conc. Nitric acid were
added. A filter paper was
soaked in this soln. and
burnt to ashes.
 2 Ash test:To a small portion Pink coloured ash was obtained Presence of Mg^2+ ions confirmed
of the salt soln., 1mL of
cobalt nitrate soln and few
drops conc. Nitric acid were
added. A filter paper was
soaked in this soln. and
burnt to ashes.

3 To 1mL of the original

soln., a few drops of
Magneson reagent was Blue coloured precipitate was obtained Presence of Mg^2+ ions confirmed
added

REPORT :
The given simple salt contains
(i) anion : .......................................................................
(ii) cation : .......................................................................