Qualitative Analysis of Salts

What is Qualitative analysis?

Qualitative analysis is a chemical technique used to determine what substances are present in a mixture but not their quantities.

In the qualitative analysis of salts, we need to identify the ions that are present in salts. This can be done by analysing their physical and chemical properties.

Observations on the physical properties of salts

1. Colour and solubility in water
Certain physical properties of salts such colour and solubitity in water are observed to help us infer certain cations and anions that are present in salts.The table shows the colour of salts in solid , in aqueous solution and the solubility of salts in water Salt 1. Ammonium chloride N ". Ammonium nitrateN
! !

Colour in solid Cl white white white white white white white white white white white 3lue 3lue 4reen 4reen 3rown 6 7ellow white white white white

Solubility in water soluble soluble insoluble soluble soluble insoluble soluble soluble insoluble insoluble insoluble soluble soluble insoluble soluble soluble soluble soluble soluble soluble

Colour in Aqueous solution colourless colourless ' colourless colourless ' colourless colourless ' ' ' 3lue 3lue ' 1ale green 3rown67ellow6 7ellowish brown colourless colourless colourless colourless

#N$%&%

%. Calcium carbonate CaC$% !. Calcium nitrate Ca#N$%&" (. )agnesium sulphate )g*$! +. )agnesium carbonate )gC$% ,. -inc sulphate -n *$! .. -inc nitrate -n#N$%&" /. 0ead#II& chloride , 1bCl" 12. 0ead#II& sulphate , 1b*$! 11. 0ead#II& carbonate , 1bC$% 1". Copper#II& chloride , CuCl" 1% Copper#II& sulphate , 1b*$! 1!. Copper#II& carbonate , 1bC$% 1(. Iron#II& sulphate , 5e*$! 1+. Iron#III& chloride , 5eCl% 1,. *odium nitrate , NaN$% 1., *odium carbonate , Na"C$% 1/. 1otassium nitrate , 8N$% "2. 1otassium carbonate , 8"C$%

The table shows the colour of different cations in the solid form or in aqueous solution Observation 3lue solution 1ale green solution 7ellow67ellowish'brown6brown solution 4reen solid 3rown solid :hite solid Colourless solution Inference Ion copper #Cu"9 & present Ion Iron#II& 5e"9 present Ion Iron #III& 5e%9 present ydrated 5e "9, CuC$% ydrated 5e %9 salt *alts of Na9 , 89 ,N Na9 , 89 ,N
9 ! 9 !

, )g "9, Ca "9 Al %9 , -n "9, 1b "9 #If the anions are colourless

, )g "9, Ca "9 , Al %9 , -n "9, 1b "9

The table shows the solubility of different types of salts in water Compounds Solubility in water

*odium salts 1otassium salts Ammonium salts Nitrate salts Chloride salts *ulphate salts Carbonate salts

All are soluble All are soluble All are soluble e;cept AgCl, gCl and 1bCl" #soluble in hot water& All are soluble e;cept 3a*$!, 1b*$! and Ca*$! All are insoluble e;cept sodium carbonate, potassium carbonate and ammonium carbonate

2.

ests for !ases

4ases are often produced from reactions carried out during laboratory tests on salts. 3y identifying the gases evolved,it is possible to infer the types of cations and anions that are present in a salt. The table shows the test and the result of different gases Gas $;ygen gas, $" ydrogen gas , Test Test with a glowing wooden splinter
"

Result :ooden splinter is re<indled 6lighted 4as e;plodes with a pop sound 0ime water turns mil<y )oist red litmus paper turns blue )oist blue litmus paper turns red and then turns white =ense white fumes 1urple acidified potassium manganate #>II&,8)n$! solution decolourises moist blue litmus paper turns red

Test with a lighted wooden splinter 3ubble the gas produced into lime water Test with moist red litmus paper Test with moist blue litmus paper Test with a drop of concentrated ammonia N % solution 3ubble the gas produced into purple acidified potassium manganate #>II&, 8)n$! solution Test with moist blue litmus paper

Carbon dio;ide gas , C$" Ammonia gas, N Chlorine gas, Cl" ydrogen chlorine gas , Cl *ulphur dio;ide gas , *$" Nitrogen dio;ide gas , N$"
%

".

Action of heat on salts

Effect of heat on carbonate salts Colour of salt before Carbonaate salt heatin Copper #II& carbonate, 4reen powder CuC$% -inc carbonate , -nC$% 0ead#II& carbonate, 1bC$% *odium carbonate, Na"C$% Calcium carbonate, CaC$% 1otassium carbonate, 8"C$% )agnesium carbonate, )gC$% :hite solid :hite solid :hite solid :hite solid :hite solid :hite solid

Colour of residue !ot 3lac< powder 7elow solid 3rown sold :hite solid :hite solid :hite solid :hite solid

cold 3lac< powder :hite solid 7elow solid :hite solid :hite solid :hite solid :hite solid

Effect on lime water The gas liberated turns lime water mil<y6chal<y The gas liberated turns lime water mil<y6chal<y The gas liberated turns lime water mil<y6chal<y No change The gas liberated turns lime water mil<y6chal<y No change The gas liberated turns lime water mil<y6chal<y

Effect of heat on nitrate salts Colour of salt "itrate Salt before heatin Copper #II& nitrate, Cu#N$%&" 3lue solid

Colour of residue !ot cold 3lac< powder 3lac< powder

Test on ases liberated A brown gas that turns blue litmus paper red is liberated. The gas liberated also ignites a glowing splinter A browan gas that turns blue litmus paper red is liberated. The gas liberated also ignites a glowing splinter A browan gas that turns blue litmus paper red is liberated. The gas liberated also ignites a glowing splinter A colourless gas that re<indles a glowing splinter is liberated

-inc nitrate, -n#N$%&"

:hite solid

7ellow solid

:hite solid

0ead#II& nitrate, 1b#N$%&" *odium nitrate, NaN$%

:hite solid

3rown solid

7ellow solid

:hite solid

:hite solid

:hite solid

Calcium nitrate, Ca#N$%&" 1otassium nitrate, 8N$% )agnesium nitrate, )g#N$%&"

:hite solid

:hite solid

:hite solid

:hite solid

:hite solid

:hite solid

:hite solid

:hite solid

:hite solid

Iron#II& nitrate, 5e#N$%&"

1ale 4reen solid

1ale 4reen solid

1ale 4reen solid

Iron#III& nitrate, 5e#N$%&%

3rown solid

?eddish' 3rown solid

?eddish' 3rown solid

A browan gas that turns blue litmus paper red is liberated. The gas liberated also ignites a glowing splinter A colourless gas that re<indles a glowing splinter is liberated A browan gas that turns blue litmus paper red is liberated. The gas liberated also ignites a glowing splinter A browan gas that turns blue litmus paper red is liberated. The gas liberated also ignites a glowing splinter A browan gas that turns blue litmus paper red is liberated. The gas liberated also ignites a glowing splinter

The table shows the comparison of the effect of heat on carbonate and nitrate salts #etal Effect of heat on carbonate salt Effect of heat on nitrate salt 1otassium Are not decomposed by heat =ecompose to nitrite salt and o;ygen gas. *odium Calcium )agnesium Aluminium -inc =ecompose to metal o;ide and carbon =ecompose to metal o;ide, nitrogen dio;ide gas and Iron dio;ide gas. o;ygen gas. Tin 0ead Copper )ercury =ecompose to metal, carbon dio;ide gas =ecompose to metal , nitrogen dio;ide gas and o;ygen *ilver and o;ygen gas. gas. 4old

)ost sulphate salts are not decomposed by heat. $nly a few sulphate such as iron#II& sulphate,@inc sulphate and copper sulphate decompose to sulphur dio;ide or sulphur trio;ide gas when heated. All chloride salts are stable when heated e;cept ammonium chloride. Ammonium chloride sublimes and decomposes to produce ammonia gas and hydrogen chloride gas. The table shows the deduction of the types of ion present based on the gas produced Type of as produced C$" $" N$" *$" N % Type of ion present$anion% Carbonate ion #C$% "' & present e;cept "a&CO' and (&CO' Nitrate ion #N$%'& present Nitrate ion #N$%'& present e;cept "a"O' and ("O' *ulphate ion #*$! "' & present Ammonim ion #N !9& present

Tests for anions

Rea ent ) Condition " cm% the un<nown solution 9 dilute hydrochloric acid 6 nitric acid 6 sulphuric acid pour into a test tube gas liberated is immediately bubbled through lime water. Observation Effervescence. Colourless gas turns lime water milky. White precipitate is forme . White precipitate is forme . Anion CO32ion Ionic Equation $if any% CO32- + 2H+ CO2 + H2O

" cm% of nitric acid 9 " cm% of the un<nown solution pour into a test tube * " cm% silver nitrate solution " cm% of dilute hydrochloric acid 6 nitric acid * " cm% of the un<nown solution pour into a test tube * " cm% of barium chloride 6 barium nitrate solution sha<e well " cm% of the un<nown solution pour into a test tube " cm% of dilute sulphuric acid * " cm% of iron#II& sulphate solution sha<e well. Then drop carefully and slowly a few drops of concentrated sulphuric acid along the side of a slanting test tube into the mi;ture without sha<ing it.

Cl- ion

!g+ + Cl- !gCl

"O#2- ion

$a2+ + "O#2 - $a"O#

$rown ring is forme at the %oun ary %etween the concentrate H2"O# &top layer' an a(ueous solution of the mi)ture &%ottom

*O3- ion

layer'

Tests for cations

Confirmatory Test for +e&*, +e'*, -b&*, "!.* Ions

Confirmatory Test for +e&* Rea ent 1otassium he;acyanoferrate#II& solution 1otassium he;acyanoferrate#III& solution 1otassium thiocyanate solution

Observation 1ale blue precipitate =ar< blue precipitate =ar< blue precipitate 4reenish'brown solution 1ale red colouration 3lood red colouration

Conclusion +e2+ ion is present +e3+ ion is present +e2+ ion is present +e3+ ion is present +e2+ ion is present +e3+ ion is present

Confirmatory Test for -b&* #ethod Asing aqueous solution of chloride ' " cm% of any solution of Cl' * " cm% of any solution of 1b"9 dilute with ( cm% of distilled water heat until no further change occurs allow the content to cool to room temperature using running water from the tap Asing aqueous solution of iodide ' " cm% of any solution of I' 9 " cm% of any solution of 1b"9 dilute with ( cm% of distilled water heat until no further change occurs allow the content to cool to room temperature using running water from the tap Confirmatory Test for "!.* #ethod

Observation - ! white precipitate is forme :hen heated B issolve in water to form colourless solution :hen cooled B white precipitate reappear - ! yellow precipitate is forme :hen heated B issolve in water to form colourless solution :hen cooled B yellow precipitate reappear

Ionic Equation ,%2+ + 2Cl- ,%Cl2

,%2+ + 2-- ,%-2

Observation ' )oist red litmus paper turns blue

" cm% of any solution of N !9 * " cm% of Na$ 6 8$ 6 Ca#$ &" heat put a piece of moist red litmus paper at the mouth of the test tube

?eaction with NesslerCs ?eagent " cm% of any solution of N !9 * " cm% of NesslerCs ?eagent sha<e well

' A brown precipitate is formed