Scheme of Salt Analysis

Experiment

Observation

Inference

Colourless

Absence of Cu2+, Fe2+, Fe3+, Mn2+, Ni

2+
, Co2+.

Physical Examination :

+00

1. Colour and appearance

of salt is noted.

2. Odour test. Rub little salt Ammoniacal smell

Vinegar like smell
with a drop of water.
No characteristic
observation.

May be NH4+

3. Flame test. Make a paste

of little salt with a drop
con. HCl in a watch glass
and introduce into the
flame.

May be Ca2+
May be Sr2+
May be Ba2+
May be Zn2+
May be Pb2+
Absence of Ca2+ ,Sr2+,Ba2+,Zn2+
Pb2+, Mn2+

Brick red
Crimson red
Grassy green
Light blue flashes
Dull bluish white

No characteristic
observation

May be CH3COO

Absence of NH4+, CH3COO

Experiment

Observation

Inference

Brisk effervescence with

colourless, odourless gas turns
lime water milky.
No characteristic
observation.

Presence of carbonate
(CO32-)

Colourless gas with pungent

sm_ell which gives dense
white fumes when glass rod
dipped in NH4OH is shown at

Presence of Chloride
(cl-)

Analysis of anions :
Preliminary tests
Action with dil. H2SO4
Little salt is added with 2 ml
of dil. H2SO4.

Action with con.H2SO4.

Little salt is warmed with
con.H2SO4.

Absence of
carbonate.

the mouth of test tube.

Reddish brown gas with

Presence of nitrate

Experiment
Confirmatory tests
For Carbonate (CO32_ )
Little salt is added with
dil. HCl.

To little salt magnesium

sulphate and ammonium
hydroxide are added.
For chlorides (Cl-)
Silver nitrate test. Little
salt is added with dil .
HNO3, boil , cool and add

Observation

Brisk effervescence
with colourless
odourless gas turns
lime water milky.
White precipitate

Presence of CO32-

White precipitate
soluble in NH4OH .

Presence of Cl-

AgNo3 solution.

Chromyl chloride test

Inference

Orange red vapours

Presence of carbonate
Is confirmed.

Experiment

Observation

Inference

For Nitrates (NO3--)

Little salt is heated with
con. H2SO4 and Cu chips.

Dark brown fumes

Presence of NO3--.

Brown ring test : To little

A dark brown ring is
of salt freshly prepared
formed at the junction.
FeSO4 is added and then

Presence of nitrate is
confirmed.

add con. H2SO4 slowly

along the sides of test
tube.
For Acetate (CH3COO-)
Esterification, little salt is
added with con. H2SO4 and
heated. Cool &Add few
ethanol and pour into
beaker with water and stir.

Pleasant fruity smell

Presence of CH3COO-

Experiment

Observation

For sulphate
Little salt is added with
BaCl2 solution.

White precipitate insoluble Presence of SO42--sulphate

in dil. HCl

Little salt is added with

lead acetate.
Analysis of Cations
Preliminary tests
Action with Na2Co3
solutions

Action with dil. HCl

Inference

White precipitate.

Presence of sulphate is
confirmed.

No precipitate

Presence of zero group

(NH4+)

White precipitate

Absence of zero group (NH4+)

White precipitate

NO characteristic

Presence of group 1 (Pb2+)

Experiment

Observation

Inference

Action with NH4Cl,

Dirty white ppt.

No characteristic ppt.

Presence of Zn2+
Absence of group 4 ( Zn2+ ,
NI2+, Co2+, Mn2+)

White precipitate

Presence of group 5 ( Ba2+,

Ca2+, Sr2+)
Absence of group 5

NH4OH and H2S.

Action with NH4Cl,
NH4OH and (NH4)2CO3.
Confirmatory tests
For NH4 +
Little salt is heated with
NaOH solution and show
a glass rod dipped in
con. HCl to the mouth of
test tube.
Little salt is added with
Nesslers reagent

No characteristic ppt.

Dense white fumes

Reddish brown ppt

NH4+ is confirmed.

NH4

is confirmed

 Experiment

Observation

Inference

Flame test with

con.HCl.

Grassy green flame

Ba2+ is confirmed

White ppt

Sr2+ is confirmed

Crimson red flame

Sr2+ is confirmed

White ppt

Ca2+ is confirmed

For Sr 2 +
Little salt is added
with ammonium
sulphate solution
Flame test with con.
HCL
For Ca 2 +
Little salt is added