Quantitative Analysis of Salts

Inference from the colour of salt solutions

Cation
Colour of solution

Cu2+
Blue

Fe2+
Green

Fe3+
Brown

Test for Gases

Name of gas

Colour
of gas

Smell of gas

Oxygen

Colourles
s

No smell

Hydrogen

Colourles
s

No smell

Carbon dioxide

Colourles
s

No smell

Ammonia

Colourles
s

Pungent

Chlorine

Greenish- Choking
yellow

Hydrogen
Chloride

Colourles
s

Pungent

Sulphur dioxide

Colourles
s

Pungent

Nitrogen dioxide

Brown

Pungent

Effect on
Confirmatio
damp litmus n test on
gas
No effect
Rekindles a
glowing
wooden splint
No effect
Produce
pop sound
with a lighted
wooden splint
Damp blue
Lime water
litmus turns
turn milky
to red
Damp red
Forms white
litmus turn
fume with
blue
concentrated
HCI vapour
Damp blue
litmus turns
red
Damp blue
Forms white
litmus turns
fumes with
red
concentrated
NH3 vapour
Damp blue
Decolourises
litmus turns
purple colour
red
of acidified
potassium
manganate(V
II) solution
Damp blue
litmus turns

red

Test of Anion in Aqueous Solution

1) Test for carbonate ions, CO32- When dilute acid is added to an aqueous carbonate solution,
effervescence occurs
- The gas evolves turn lime water milky. CO2 is produced
2) Test for nitrate ions, NO3- (brown ring test)
- When dilute sulphuric acid and iron(II) sulphate solution are added
to an aqueous nitrate solution, followed by concentrated sulphuric
acid slow along the side of the test tube, a brown ring is formed in
the middle section of the solution mixture. The formation of the
brown ring (a complex) indicates the presence of nitrate ions.
3) Test for sulphate ions, SO42- When a dilute hydrochloric acid is added to an aqueous sulphate
solution followed by barium chloride solution, a white ppt (BaSO4) is
formed.
- BaCI2 solution provide the Ba2+ ions to react with the SO42- ions.
4) Test for chloride ions, CI- When dilute nitric acid is added to an aqueous chloride solution
followed by silver nitrate solution, AgNO3, a white ppt (AgCI) is
formed.
Test of Cations
Reagent
Add NaOH in excess
Add NH3 in excess
Add NaOH and NH3 in
excess

Add NaOH in excess

Add NH3 in excess

Observation
White ppt soluble
White ppt insolube
White ppt soluble
White ppt insoluble
Green ppt insoluble in
NaOH and NH3
Brown ppt insoluble in
NaOH and NH3
Blue ppt insoluble in
NaOH but soluble in NH3
to form dark blue color
No ppt form, but NH3
gas evolves when
heated

Inference
Zn2+/Al3+/Pb2+
Ca2+/Mg2+
Zn2+
Al3+/Pb2+/Mg2+
Fe2+
Fe3+
Cu2+

NH4+

Confirmatory test for Fe2+, Fe3+, and Pb2+ ions

Cations
Pb2+

Specific reagent
KI, NaI

NH4+
Fe2+

Nessler reagent
Potassium
hexacynoferrate (II),
K4Fe(CN)6
Potassium
hexacynoferrate (III),
K3Fe(CN)6
Pottasium thiocynate,
KSCN
K4Fe(CN)6
K3Fe(CN)6

Fe3+

Observation
Yellow ppt, soluble in
hot water
Brown ppt
Light blue ppt

Dark blue ppt

Blood red colour

Dark blue ppt
Greenish-brown sol