Aim: To determine the anion and cation present in the given salt.

EXPERIMENT OBSERVATION INFERENCE

1. State
2. Colour
3. Odour
4. Texture
5. Test for anion
Dil. H2SO4 Test No reaction or change observed CO32-, S2-, SO32-, NO2-,
Added a few drops of dil. CH3COO- absent
H2SO4 to a pinch of salt in a Colourless vapours, smell like Maybe CH3COO-
clean, dry test tube. vinegar
Colourless and odourless gas Maybe CO32-
(write anyone of the with effervescence.
observation and confirmatory Colourless gas with smell like Maybe S2-
test as applicable) rotten eggs.
Colourless gas with smell like Maybe SO32-
burning sulphur
Brown vapours with pungent Maybe NO2-
smell.
Confirmatory Tests (Write the test for anion whose presence is indicated and then confirmed)
CH3COO- (Acetate)
Ester test: Add a few drops of Fruity smell due to formation of CH3COO- confirmed.
conc. H2SO4 and ethyl alcohol ester.
to a pinch of salt/
CO32- (Carbonate)
Passed the gas released White ppt. observed CO32- confirmed.
through BaCl2 (or lime water)
S2- (Sulphide)
Bring a strip of paper dipped Paper turned black S2- confirmed
in lead acetate near the
mouth of test tube.
SO32- (Sulphite)
Bring a strip of paper dipped Paper turned green. SO32- confirmed
in acidified K2Cr2O7 near the
mouth of test tube.
NO2- (Nitrite)
Add FeSO4 solution to the Solution turned black. NO2- confirmed.
aqueous solution of salt in
water.
 Conc. H2SO4 Test No reaction or change observed Cl-, Br-, I-, NO3- absent.
Added a few drops of conc.
H2SO4 to a pinch of salt in a Colourless or yellowish gas with Cl- maybe present.
clean, dry test tube. pungent smell
Reddish brown gas with pungent, Br- maybe present.
(write anyone of the suffocating odour.
observation and confirmatory Brown gas that intensifies on NO3- maybe present.
test as applicable) heating with Cu powder
Violet vapours with pungent I- maybe present
smell.
Confirmatory Tests (Write the test for anion whose presence is indicated and then confirmed)
Cl-, Br-, I- (Chloride, Bromide, Iodide)
AgNO3 Test: Add a few drops Curdy white ppt soluble in Cl- confirmed.
of HNO3 to the salt and add NH4OH
AgNO3 solution. Yellow white ppt partially soluble Br- confirmed.
(write anyone of the in NH4OH
observation test as applicable) Yellow ppt insoluble in NH4OH I- confirmed.
-
NO3 (Nitrate)
Ring test: To an aqueous Dark brown ring at the junction NO3- confirmed.
solution of salt in water, add of two layers.
freshly prepared FeSO4,. Add
2-3 drops of conc. H2SO4 along
the sides of test tuble.
(If no reaction with dilute and conc. H2SO4, test for presence of sulphate and phosphate)
Test for Sulphate
Add dil. HCl to an aqueous White ppt observed SO42- confirmed
solution of salt and then add
BaCl2.
Test for Phosphate
Added conc. HNO3 to the salt Canary yellow ppt observed PO43- confirmed.
and then add ammonium
molybdate solution. Shake the
contents of the solution.

6. Test for Cations

Group 0: No change Group O absent
In a clean dry test tube, add White fumes with smell of NH4+ maybe present
NaOH to a pinch of salt. ammonia
(write anyone of the
observation test as applicable,
write confirmatory test if
cation indicated)
(If ammonium ion indicated, perform confirmatory test. Otherwise proceed for group I)
Confirmatory test for NH4+ Brown ppt was observed NH4+ confirmed.
Nessler’s Reagent Test:
Add few drops of Nessler’s
reagent [K2(HgI4)] to the above
solution.
(Proceed for group I if group 0 absent)
Prepared O.S. of the salt by
dissolving the salt in water.
Group I: No ppt. Group I cations absent
Add 3-4 drops of dil. HCl to the White ppt observed Pb2+ in group I maybe
O.S. with shaking. present.
(Proceed for group II if group I absent)
Group II: No ppt. Group II cations absent
To the above solution (group 1
Black ppt Pb2+ in group II maybe
solution), add Na2S.
present.
(Confirmatory test for lead ion if its presence is indicated)
Confirmatory test for Pb2+
Dissolve the ppt in hot water,
divide the solution into two
parts and perform following
tests respectively.
i) Add K2CrO4 solution to one Yellow ppt. formed Pb2+ confirmed
part.
ii) Add KI solution to second Yellow ppt. formed Pb2+ confirmed
part of solution.
(Proceed for group III if group II absent)
Group III: No ppt. Group III cations absent
To the O.S. add 1-2 drops of
conc. HNO3 , solid NH4Cl. Add White ppt. Al3+ in group III present.
NH4OH in excess.
(perform confirmatory test for Al3+ if its presence is indicated)

Confirmatory test for Al3+ Blue ppt. suspended in colourless Al3+ confirmed.
Dissolve the white ppt. in dil. medium.
HCl, add a few drops of blue
litmus and excess of NH4OH.

(Proceed for group IV if group III absent)

Group IV: No ppt Group IV absent

Add Na2S to the solution
White ppt Zn2+ maybe present.
obtained in test for group III.
(Perform confirmatory test for Zinc ion if it is indicated)
Confirmatory test for Zn2+
Dissolve the white ppt in dil.
HCl and divide the solution in
two parts.
i) To one part add potassium Bluish white ppt. formed Zn2+ confirmed.
ferrocyanide.
ii)To other part add NaOH White ppt. formed, soluble in Zn2+ confirmed.
excess of NaOH
(Proceed for group V if group IV absent)
 Group V: No ppt Group IV absent
Add solid NH4Cl to the OS and
solution of NH4OH, add White ppt formed Presence of group IV
(NH4)2CO3 cations – Ba2+, Ca2+, Sr2+
indicated
Confirmatory test for Ba2+,
Sr2+, Ca2+
Dissolve the white ppt formed
in dilute acetic acid and divide
in three parts:
i) Add potassium Yellow ppt formed Ba2+ confirmed
dichromate
solution
ii) Add Ammonium White ppt formed Sr2+ confirmed
sulphate solution
iii) Add Ammonium White ppt formed Ca2+ confirmed
oxalate to the
solution.

Flame Test: Light green color in flame Ba2+ ion confirmed

Make a paste of the salt with Crimson red flame Sr2+ ion confirmed
conc. HCl and perform flame
test. Brick red flame Ca2+ ion confirmed
(If group V absent, proceed for group VI)
Group VI Formation of white ppt Presence of Mg2+
Add a pinch of NH4Cl and a confirmed.
few drops of NH4OH to the OS.
Add excess of ammonium
phosphate.
Precautions:

1. Do not mix chemicals unnecessarily.

2. Never add water to conc. H2SO4.
3. Never point test tube towards yourself or others while heating or adding chemicals.

Result:

The anion present in given salt is: ____

The cation present in given salt is: _____

Reactions for respective tests: