SYSTEMATIC QUALITATIVE ANALYSIS

Analysis of anions :

EXPERIMENT OBSERVATION INFERENCE

Carbonate ion – Colourless gas with CO3 2- is present

effervescence
To the sait added dil H2SO4

Passed the gas through lime Lime water turns milky Confirms CO3 2-
water

To the salt solution added Solution turns pink Confirms CO3 2-

phenolphthalein.

Sulphide ion – Colourless rotten egg smelling S 2- is present

gas
To the sait added dil H2SO4

To the salt solution added Black ppt Confirms S 2-

Pb(CH3COO)2 solution.

To the solution added sodium Violet colour Confirms S 2-

nitroprusside solution

Sulphite ion- Colourless pungent smelling gas SO3 2- is present

To the sait added dil H2SO4

To the salt solution added dilute Solution turns green Confirms SO3 2-
H2SO4 and few drops of
K2Cr2O7 .

To the salt solution added dilute Pink colour disappears Confirms SO3 2-
H2SO4 and few drops of KMnO4 .

Nitrite ion- Brown gas NO3 – is present

To the sait added dil H2SO4

To the salt solution added dilute Solution turns dark brown or Confirms NO3 –
CH3COOH and FeSO4 solution. black.

To the salt solution added dilute Solution turns blue Confirms NO3 –
CH3COOH and drops of KI
followed by starch solution.

EXPERIMENT OBSERVATION INFERENCE

Chloride ion – Colourless pungent smelling Cl- Is present

To the salt added conc gas , gives dense white fumes
H2SO4 .Exposed the gas with a NH4OH.
evolved to a glass rod dipped
in NH4OH.

To the salt solution added White ppt soluble in NH4OH Confirms Cl-
AgNO3 solution. obtained

To the salt added K2Cr2O7 Yellow ppt obtained. Confirms Cl-

crystals and conc H2SO4 . Pass
the red vapours through NaOH
solution. Then added
CH3COOH and Pb(CH3COOH)2
solution.

Bromide ion – Brown gas Br- is present

To the salt added conc H2SO4

To the salt solution added Pale yellow ppt partially Confirms Br-
AgNO3 solution. soluble in NH4OH obtained

To the salt solution added CS2 Brown colour in the organic Confirms Br-
or CCl4 and then add Cl2 water layer obtained
dropwise with constant
shaking.

Iodide ion- Violet gas I- is present

To the salt added conc H2SO4

To the salt solution added Yellow ppt insoluble in NH4OH Confirms I--
AgNO3 solution. obtained

To the salt solution added CS2 Violet colour in the organic Confirms I--
or CCl4 and then add drops of layer obtained
Cl2 water constant shaking.

Nitrate ion- Brown gas NO3 – is present

To the salt added conc

H2SO4 ,a piece of Cu or paper
and heated.

To the salt solution added
freshly prepared FeSO4
solution and then add conc
H2SO4 slowly along the sides of
the test tube .
A dark brown ring is formed at Confirms NO3 –
the junction of the layers of
acid and solution.

Acetate ion – Colourless vinegar smelling CH3COO- is present.

 To the salt added conc H2SO4 vapours ,

To the salt added conc H2SO4 Fruity odour of ester detected Confirms CH3COO-
and heat. Then add ethyl
alcohol and pour the contents
into a beaker containing 25 mL
water.

To the salt solution added Solution turns reddish which Confirms CH3COO-
neutral FeCl3 solution. converts into a ppt on heating
with water.

Sulphate ion – White ppt SO4 2- is present

To the salt solution added BaCl2

solution

Add Conc HCl to a part of the Ppt does not dissolve Confirms SO4 2- .
white ppt

To the salt solution added lead White ppt Confirms SO4 2- .

acetate solution.

Phosphate ion – A yellow ppt or colouration PO4 3- is present

obtained
To the salt added conc HNO3
and boiled.Then added excess
of Ammonium molybdate
solution and heated.

To the salt solution added White ppt obtained Confirms PO4 3-

Magnesia mixture (solid NH4Cl +
NH4OH +MgSO4 solution)
Scratch the sides of the test
tube.

CATION ANALYSIS

Sr No. Salt Colour

 1 sulfides of Cu2+, Co2+, Pb2+ Black

2 Hydrated Cu2+ salts Blue

3 Ni2+ Green

4 Hydrated Mn2+ salts Light Pink

5 Hydrated Co2+ salts Reddish Pink

6 PbI2, Yellow

Classification of cations into groups

GROUP CATIONS GROUP REAGENT COLOUR OF THE PPT

Zero NH4 + Preliminary test -( Salt + (NH3 gas evolves., gives

Conc NaOH + Heat ) dense white fumes with
NH4OH)

I Pb 2+ Dil HCl PbCl 2 ( white )

II Cu 2+ DIl HCl + H2S CuS ( Black )

III Fe 3+ , Al 3+ NH4Cl +NH4OH Fe(OH)3 ( Brown )

Al(OH)3 ( White )

IV Co 2+ , Ni 2+ , Mn 2+ , Zn 2+ NH4Cl +NH4OH + H2S CoS , NiS ( Black )

MnS ( Buff coloured )
ZnS ( Dirty white )

V Ba 2+ , Sr 2+ , Ca 2+ NH4Cl +NH4OH + BaCO3 , SrCO3 , SrCO3

(NH4)2CO3 (white)

VI Mg 2+ Preliminary test –(Salt sol White ppt -

+ NH4Cl +NH4OH
Mg(NH4)PO4.6H2O
(NH4)3PO4 sol + scratch
the walls of the test tube)

Analysis of Cations:
EXPERIMENT OBSERVATION INFERENCE
Zero group – NH4+
Heat a pinch of the salt with Ammoniacal smelling gas NH4+ is present
conc. NaOH evolves.

Bring a glass rod dipped in dil Dense white fumes is seen NH4+ is confirmed.
HCl close to the mouth of the
test tube.

To the salt added conc. NaOH, Brown precipitate is formed. NH4+ is confirmed.
heated and then add Nessler’s
reagent.
Pb2+
To the salt solution added White ppt is formed Pb2+ is present
Dil.HCl

To the salt solution added Yellow ppt is formed confirms the presence of Pb2+
K2CrO4

To the salt solution added KI Yellow ppt is formed confirms the presence of Pb2+

Second group - Cu2+

To the salt solution added
dil.HCl and H2S Black ppt is formed Cu2+ is present

To the salt solution added Deep blue Confirms the presence of Cu2+
excess NH4OH

To the salt solution added

K4[Fe(CN)6] Brown ppt is formed Confirms the presence of Cu2+

Al3+
To the salt solution added NH4Cl White gelatinous ppt is formed Al3+ is present
and NH4OH

To the salt solution added White ppt is formed Al3+ presence is confirmed
NaOH

To the salt solution added Blue ppt is formed Al3+ presence is confirmed
NaOH ,DIL HCl, Blue litmus and
NH4OH

Fe3+
To the salt solution added Brown ppt is formed Fe3+ is present
NH4OH and NH4Cl

To the salt solution KCNS Blood red colouration Fe3+ presence is confirmed

To the salt solution K4Fe(CN)6 Dark blue ppt is formed Fe3+ presence is confirmed
Fourth group-Ni2+
To the salt solution added
NH4Cl,NH4OH and H2S Black ppt is formed Ni2+ is present

To the salt solution added DMG

Red rose colouration Confirms the presence of Ni2+
To the salt solution added
NaOH Light green ppt Confirms the presence of Ni2+

Co2+
To the salt solution NH4OH AND Black ppt is formed Co2+ is present
NH4Cl &H2S

To the salt solution added Blue ppt is formed Confirms the presence of Co2+
NaOH

To the salt solution added Blue etherial layer is formed Confirms the presence of Co2+
NH4CNS and Ether
Mn2+
To the salt solution added Buff ppt is formed Mn2+ is present
NH4Cl,NH4OH and H2S

To the salt solution added Buff ppt is formed Confirms the presence of Mn2+
NaOH

To the salt solution added Brown ppt is formed Confirms the presence of Mn2+
K4Fe(CN)6

Zn2+
To the salt solution added Dirty white ppt is formed Zn2+ is present
NH4Cl,NH4OH and H2S

To the salt solution added White ppt is formed Confirms the presence of Zn2+
NaOH

To the salt solution added Bluish white or yellowish ppt is Confirms the presence of Zn2+
K4Fe(CN)6 formed

FIFTH GROUP
To the salt solution added White ppt is formed (White ppt Ba2+ or Sr2+ or Ca2+ is present
NH4Cl,NH4OH & (NH4)SO4 dissolves in CH3COOH)

Ba2+
To the salt solution added Yellow ppt is formed Ba2+ is present
K2CrO4
Flame test Light green flame Confirms the presence of Ba2+
Sr2+
To the salt solution added White ppt is formed Sr2+ is present
(NH4)SO4
Flame test Crimson red flame Confirms the presence of Sr2+

Ca2+
To the salt solution added White ppt is formed Ca2+ is present
(NH4)2C2O4

Flame test Brick red flame Confirms the presence of Ca2+

Sixth group - Mg2+

To the salt solution added White ppt is formed Mg2+ is present
NH4Cl,NH4OH and Na2HPO4

To the salt solution added White ppt is formed Confirms the presence of Mg2+
(NH4)PO4