CHEMISTRY (CLASS XI) PRACTICALS

SALT ANALYSIS
TEST FOR CATIONS (BASIC RADICALS)
Group 0 cations NH4+
Group reagent No group reagent
Test for NH4+ ion
S.No. Experiment Observation Inference
1. Salt + NaOH solution + heat Smell of It indicates the presence
ammonia of NH4+ ion.
2. Bring a glass rod dipped in dil HCl White fumes It confirms the presence
near the mouth of test tube. of NH4+ ion.
3. Bring a paper dipped in Nesslers The paper turns It confirms the presence
reagent. brown. of NH4+ ion.

Group I cations Pb2+

Group reagent dil. HCl
Test for Pb2+ ion
S.No. Experiment Observation Inference
1. Salt + NaOH solution + heat No smell of ammonia It indicates the absence of
NH4+ ion.
2. O.S. + dil. HCl White ppt It indicates the presence of
Filter and wash ppt with group I cations.
distilled H2O. Boil the ppt Ppt dissolves.
with 5-10 mL H2O. Colourless solution is
3. Divide the solution obtained. It indicates the presence of
into 3 parts: Pb2+ ion.
(i) Cool one part of the solution White crystalline ppt It confirms the presence of
under tap water. separates out. Pb2+ ion.
(ii) Add KI solution. Yellow ppt It confirms the presence of
Pb2+ ion.
(iii) Add Potassium chromate Yellow ppt It confirms the presence of
(K2CrO4) solution. Pb2+ ion.

Group II cations Pb2+, Cu2+

Group reagent dil. HCl + H2S (g)
Test for Pb2+ ion
S.No. Experiment Observation Inference
1. Salt + NaOH solution + heat No smell of ammonia It indicates the absence of
NH4+ ion.
2. O.S. + dil. HCl No ppt It indicates the absence of
group I cations.
3. O.S. + dil. HCl + warm + pass Black ppt It indicates the presence
H2S gas of group II cations.
4. Black ppt + 1-2 mL dil. HNO3 + ppt dissolves.
boil + filter (if required) Colourless solution is It indicates the presence
Divide the solution obtained. of Pb2+ ion.
into 3 parts:
(i) Add KI solution. Yellow ppt It confirms the presence
of Pb2+ ion.
(ii) Add K2CrO4 solution. Yellow ppt It confirms the presence
of Pb2+ ion.
(iii) Add ethyl alcohol + dil. H2SO4 White ppt It confirms the presence
of Pb2+ ion.

Test for Cu2+ ion

S.No. Experiment Observation Inference
1. Salt + NaOH solution + heat No smell of ammonia It indicates the absence
of NH4+ ion.
2. O.S. + dil. HCl No ppt It indicates the absence
of group I cations.
3. O.S. + dil. HCl + warm + Black ppt It indicates the
pass H2S gas presence of group II
cations.
4. Black ppt + 1-2 mL dil. ppt dissolves.
HNO3 + boil+ filter (if Blue coloured solution is It indicates the
required) obtained. presence of Cu2+ ion.
Divide the solution
into 3 parts:
(i) Add NH4OH solution. Blue ppt It confirms the
Add excess of NH4OH Deep blue solution. presence of Cu2+ ion.
solution. It confirms the
presence of Cu2+ ion.
(ii) Add acetic acid + Potassium Chocolate brown ppt. It confirms the
ferrocyanide solution. presence of Cu2+ ion.
(iii) Add acetic acid + KI solution. White ppt is observed in It confirms the
brown coloured solution. presence of Cu2+ ion.

Group III cations Al3+, Fe3+

Group reagent NH4Cl + NH4OH
Test for Al3+ ion
S.No. Experiment Observation Inference
1. Salt + NaOH solution + heat No smell of It indicates the
ammonia absence of NH4+ ion.
2. O.S. + dil. HCl No ppt It indicates the
absence of group I
cations.
3. O.S. + dil. HCl + warm + pass H2S No ppt It indicates the
gas absence of group II
cations.
4. O.S. + NH4Cl (s) + warm + cool + Gelatinous white ppt It indicates the
NH4OH (excess) presence of group III
Filter and wash ppt with distilled cations.
water.
5. Dissolve the ppt in dil. HCl and divide
the solution into 2 parts:
(i) Add NaOH solution dropwise. White ppt It confirms the
presence of Al3+ ion.
(ii) Lake Test
 Add 2 drops of blue litmus solution +
add NH4OH solution dropwise till Blue ppt floating in It confirms the
blue colour develops. colourless solution. presence of Al3+ ion.

Test for Fe3+ ion

S.No. Experiment Observation Inference
1. Salt + NaOH solution + heat No smell of It indicates the
ammonia absence of NH4+
ion.
2. O.S. + dil. HCl No ppt It indicates the
absence of group I
cations.
3. O.S. + dil. HCl + warm + pass H2S gas No ppt It indicates the
absence of group II
cations.
4. O.S. + [few drops of conc. HNO3 (if salt Reddish brown It indicates the
is green coloured)] + NH4Cl (s) + warm ppt presence of group
+ cool + NH4OH (excess) III cations.
Filter and wash ppt with distilled water.
5. Dissolve the ppt in dil. HCl and divide
the solution into 2 parts:
(i) Add Potassium ferrocyanide solution. Prussian blue It confirms the
coloured solution. presence of Fe3+
ion.
(ii) Add Potassium thiocyanate solution. Blood red It confirms the
coloration. presence of Fe3+
ion.

Group IV cations Zn2+, Mn2+

Group reagent NH4Cl + NH4OH + H2S (g)
Test for Zn2+ ion
S.No. Experiment Observation Inference
1. Salt + NaOH solution + heat No smell of ammonia It indicates the absence
of NH4+ ion.
2. O.S. + dil. HCl No ppt It indicates the absence
of group I cations.
3. O.S. + dil. HCl + warm + pass No ppt It indicates the absence
H2S gas of group II cations.
4. O.S. + NH4Cl (s) + warm + No ppt It indicates the absence
cool + NH4OH (excess) of group III cations.
5. O.S. + NH4Cl (s) + warm + Dull / dirty white ppt It indicates the
cool + NH4OH + pass H2S gas. presence of group IV
Filter and wash ppt with cations.
distilled water.
6. Dissolve the ppt in dil. HCl and
divide the solution into 2 parts:
(i) Add Potassium ferrocyanide Bluish white ppt It confirms the
solution. presence of Zn2+ ion.
(ii) Add NaOH solution. White ppt soluble in It confirms the
 excess of NaOH solution. presence of Zn2+ ion.

Test for Mn2+ ion

S.No. Experiment Observation Inference
1. Salt + NaOH solution + heat No smell of It indicates the absence
ammonia of NH4+ ion.
2. O.S. + dil. HCl No ppt It indicates the absence
of group I cations.
3. O.S. + dil. HCl + warm + pass No ppt It indicates the absence
H2S gas of group II cations.
4. O.S. + NH4Cl (s) + warm + cool + No ppt It indicates the absence
NH4OH (excess) of group III cations.
5. O.S. + NH4Cl (s) + warm + cool + Buff (skin / flesh) It indicates the presence
NH4OH + pass H2S gas. coloured ppt of group IV cations.
6. Divide the solution containing ppt
in 2 parts:
(i) Boil off H2S (g). Add NaOH White ppt turns grey It confirms the presence
solution + Bromine water Mn2+ ion.
(ii) Add PbO2 (s) + conc. HNO3 + Pink coloration It confirms the presence
boil + cool + allow it to settle. Mn2+ ion.

Group V cations Ba2+, Sr2+, Ca2+

Group reagent NH4Cl + NH4OH + (NH4)2CO3 solution
Test for Ba2+/ Sr2+/ Ca2+ ions
S.No. Experiment Observation Inference
1. Salt + NaOH solution + heat No smell of ammonia It indicates the
absence of NH4+
ion.
2. O.S. + dil. HCl No ppt It indicates the
absence of group
I cations.
3. O.S. + dil. HCl + warm + pass H2S gas No ppt It indicates the
absence of group
II cations.
4. O.S. + NH4Cl (s) + warm + cool + No ppt It indicates the
NH4OH (excess) absence of group
III cations.
5. O.S. + NH4Cl (s) + warm + cool + No ppt It indicates the
NH4OH + pass H2S gas. absence of group
IV cations.
6. O.S. + NH4Cl (s) + warm + cool +
NH4OH + (NH4)2CO3 solution. White ppt It indicates the
Filter and wash ppt with distilled water. presence of group
V cations.
7. Dissolve the ppt in hot acetic acid and
divide the solution in 3 parts:
(i) Add Potassium chromate solution. Yellow ppt It confirms the
presence of Ba2+
ion.
(ii) Add Ammonium sulphate solution + White ppt It confirms the
warm. presence of Sr2+
ion.
(iii) Add Ammonium oxalate solution + White ppt It confirms the
NH4OH solution. presence of Ca2+
Scratch the side of test tube with the ion.
help of glass rod.
8. Flame Test
On a loop of platinum wire / edge of
glass rod, take a few drops of conc.
HCl, sprinkle some salt on it and ignite
it in the flame.
(a) Grassy green flame It confirms the
appears after presence of Ba2+
prolonged heating. ion.
(b) Crimson red flame It confirms the
(persistent) presence of Sr2+
ion.
(c) Brick red flame It confirms the
(not persistent) presence of Ca2+
ion.

Group VI cations Mg2+

Group reagent No group reagent
Test for Mg2+ ion
S.No. Experiment Observation Inference
1. Salt + NaOH solution + heat No smell of It indicates the absence
ammonia of NH4+ ion.
2. O.S. + dil. HCl No ppt It indicates the absence
of group I cations.
3. O.S. + dil. HCl + warm + pass H2S gas No ppt It indicates the absence
of group II cations.
4. O.S. + NH4Cl (s) + warm + cool + No ppt It indicates the absence
NH4OH (excess) of group III cations.
5. O.S. + NH4Cl (s) + warm + cool +
NH4OH + pass H2S gas. No ppt It indicates the absence
of group IV cations.
6. O.S. + NH4Cl (s) + warm + cool + No ppt It indicates the absence
NH4OH + (NH4)2CO3 solution. of group V cations.
7. O.S. + NH4Cl (s) + warm + cool +
NH4OH + Na2HPO4 or (NH4)2HPO4 White ppt It confirms the
solution. presence of Mg2+ ion.
8. Flame test Lilac flame It confirms the
Perform using Platinum wire. Observe presence of Mg2+ ion.
the flame under blue glass.