Class XII

Viva questions for Chemistry Practical

1.
Ans.

Why is conc HCI used in performing the flame test?

The chlorides of Na, K, Ba, Sr, Ca are volatile in the non-luminous flame of the
bunsen burner.

2.
Ans.

Why do barium salts not impart colour to the flame immediately?

Because barium chloride is less volatile, hence it impacts colour after some
time.

3.
Ans.

Can we use Conc. H2SO4 in place of HCl for flame test?

No. Conc H2SO4 will form sulphates which are not volatile, so are not useful for
performing the flame test.

4.
Ans.

Name the acid radicals detected by dilute H2SO4.

CO32, S2, SO32, NO2-

5.

What information do you get if the addition of dil H2SO4 to the salt results in the
formation of white precipitate?
It indicates that the cation present in the salt may be Pb2+, Ba2+, Sr2+ or Ca2+ which
form insoluble sulphates.

Ans.

6.

Name the anions detected by conc H2SO4 test.

Ans.

Cl-, Br-, I-, CH3COO-, NO3-, C2O

7.

Both NO2 and Br2 evolved when NO3 and Br salts react with conc H2SO4 are
brown. How would you distinguish between them?
Pass the gas through FeSO4 solution. If it turns black, or brown then the gas is NO2.

And.

Br2 vapours turns starch paper yellow. In case of NO , the evolution of vapours
intensify on addition of copper turnings.
8.
Ans.

9.
Ans.

Why should freshly prepared FeSO4 be used in the brown ring test for nitrate?
What is the composition of brown ring?
Ferrous sulphate is not stable and is easily oxidized to Ferric sulphate, which will not
form complex with NO. So a freshly prepared solution must be used.
What is the principle of separation of cations in each group in the group analysis
table?
It is based on the principle of selective precipitation that depends on the concept of
solubility product.

10.
Ans.

Why are Ag+ and Pb2+ placed in group I?

Because the solubility products of their chlorides is the lowest.

11.
Ans.

Why is HCl added before passing H2S in group II?

In order to suppress the dissociation of weak acid, H2S, by common ion effect,
sulphides of group II cations have low solubility products and therefore are
precipitated at low [H+].

12.
Ans.

Why is Pb2+ present in both group I and group II?

In group I, Pb2+ is precipitated on PbCl2. But in excess HCl, PbCl2 dissolves to form
H2 [PbCl4] and is precipitated as PbS in group II.

13.
Ans.

Why are group IV cations not precipitated as sulphides in group II?

Group IV cations (Zn2+, Mn2+, Co3+, Ni2+) need higher concentration of S2 because
their sulphides have high Ksp.

14.
Ans.

Why is NH4Cl added before NH4OH in group III?

NH4Cl NH4+Cl
NH4OH NH4++OH
Due to the common ion effect, concentration of OH is decreased. Hydroxides of
group III have low Ksp and get precipitated even at low concentration. If NH4Cl is
not added, hydroxides of group IV and V also get precipitated.

15.
Ans.

Can NaCl & NaOH be used instead of NH4Cl & NH4OH?

No because both NaCl and NaOH are strong electrolytes and there will not be any
common ion effect.

16.

Why is excess NH4OH added before passing H2S in group IV?

NH4OH NH4++ OH- --------- 1
H2S 2H++S2 -------- 2
H++ OH H2O ------- 3
The dissociation of H2S is increased by the removal of H+ in equation 3. So
concentration of S2 increases and cations of group IV get precipitated as sulphides
[They have high Ksp].

17..
Ans.

Can Na2CO3 be used in place of (NH4)2CO3 in group V?

No. Na2CO3 is a strong electrolyte and so [CO32] will be high enough to precipitate
group VI (Mg2+).

18.
Ans.

Why is (NH4)2CO3 added in the presence of NH4OH?

If NH4HCO3 is present it is converted to (NH4)2CO3 by NH4OH.

19.

What is the formula of Nesslers reagent? What is the name of the product
obtained when NH4+reacts with it?
Nesslers reagent K2 [HgI4] (alkaline)
Product Iodide of Millons base

Ans.

20.
Ans.

21.
Ans.

Why do we analyze group V in the order Ba2+, Sr2+, Ca2+?

Because Ba2+ gives positive test with K2CrO4, ammonium sulphate and amm.oxalate.
So it is eliminated first. Sr2+ positive test with ammonium sulphate and amm.oxalate
and Ca2+ gives ppt only with amm oxalate.
What is the principle of volumetric analysis?
In volumetric analysis, concentration of a solution is determined by allowing a known
volume of a solution to react with quantitatively with another solution of known
concentration.

22.
Ans.

What is a primary standard? Give two examples.

A primary standard is a substance where exact concentration solution can be prepared
by directly weighing the sample and dissolving it in the given amount of solution. Its
concentration does not change. Eg. Oxalic acid, F.A.S.

23.
Ans.

Is KMnO4 a primary standard? If not, why?

KMnO4 is not a primary standard. Because KMnO4 is not available in pure state and
its solution is not stable to oxidation. It slowly decomposes to MnO2 standing.

24.
Ans.

What is the least count of (i) burette, (ii) Chemical balance

Burette 0.1 ml, Chemical / Analytical balance 0.0002g.

25.
Ans.

Why is dil H2SO4 added to the conical flask containing oxalic acid / ferrous
ammonium sulphate solution before titrating with KMnO4?.
KMno4 acts as oxidizing against in acidic medium in the titration. Dil H2SO4
provides the acidic medium.

26.

Write ionic equation for the reduction of MnO4 in acidic medium and alkaline
medium. In which medium does it act as a stronger oxidizing agent?

Ans.

MnO + 8H+ + 5e

Mn2+ + 4 H2O Eo = 1.51v

MnO + 3e + 2H2O
MnO2(s) + 4OHIt is a stronger oxidising agent in acidic medium.

Eo = 0.59v

27.
Ans.

Why is oxalic acid + Dil H2SO4 heated to 60oC 70oC before titration?
To increase the rate of reaction. The reaction is very slow at room temperature.

28.
Ans.

What is the relation between normality and molarity of a solution?

Normality = n molarity. For redox reactions, n-no. of electrons lost during oxidation
or gained during reduction.

29.

What is the value of n for KMnO4, Oxalic acid, Ferrous ammonium sulphate.
(F.A.S)
KMnO4 5, Oxalic acid 2, F.A.S 1

Ans.
30.
Ans.

31.
Ans.

Why is ferrous ammonium sulphate used for preparing standard solution? Why
cant ferrous sulphate be used?
Fe2+ in Ferrous sulphate is oxidized to Fe3+ and so its concentration changes. F.A.S.
being a double salt is stable.
Why does the decolourisation of KMnO4 become faster as the reaction proceeds?
Mn2+ catalyses the reaction. As the concentration of KMnO4 decreases, concentration
of Mn2+ increases and the rate increases.