411 REFERENCE · Wikibooks
Inorganic Chemistry/Qualitative Analysis/Tests for cations
Reference material by Wikibooks contributors. This retains its source identity and is not 411 news reporting.
Please note that the groups of cations mentioned/discussed here do not refer to the groups of the periodic table! The various cations have been arranged into several groups for the purpose of qualitative analysis and these are the groups that we are talking about.
Qualitative Analysis for Cations
S.No.ExperimentObservationInference1.Analysis of Group 0
(Ammonium ion NH4+)
To a little of salt solution add a few
drops of Na2CO3.a. No precipitate
b. A precipitate.a.Presence of Group 0
b. Absence of Group 0.2.Analysis of Group I
(Lead ion Pb2+)
O.S. + dil. HCla. A white ppt soluble in hot water
and reappear on cooling.
b.No precipitate.a. Presence of Group I.
b. Absence of Group I3.Analysis of Group II
( Cu2+, Cd2+ & As3+)
Pass the H2S gas in the above soln.a. A black ppt.
b. A yellow ppt.
c. No characteristic ppt.a. Cu2+ suspected.
b. Cd2+ or As3+ suspected.
c. Absence of Group II.4.Analysis of Group III
(Al3+ & Fe3+)
O.S. + NH4Cl + NH4OH (excess)a. A white gelatinous ppt.
b. Reddish brown ppt.
c. No characteristic ppt.a. Al3+ suspected.
b. Fe3+ suspected.
c. Absence of Group III5.Analysis of Group IV
(Ni2+, Co2+, Zn2+, & Mn2+)
Pass the H2S gas to the above solution.a. A black ppt.
b. A white ppt.
c. Flesh colored ppt.
d. No characteristic ppt.a. Ni2+ or Co2+ suspected.
b. Zn2+ suspected.
c. Mn2+ suspected.
d. Absence of group IV.6.Analysis of Group V
(Ba2+, Ca2+, & Sr2+)
Heat the above content to remove the H2S
gas. Now add ammonium carbonate are
added.a. A white ppt.
b. No white ppt.a. Ba2+, Ca2+, or Sr2+ suspected.
b. Absence of Group V.7.Analysis of group VI
(Magnesium ion, Mn2+)
O.S. + NH4Cl + NH4OH(excess) + Na2HPO4a. A white crystalline ppt.
b. No white crystalline ppt.a. Mg2+ suspected.
b. Absence of Group VI.
Confirmatory test for Cations(Basic Radical)
+S. No.ExperimentObservationInference1.Ammonium Ion
a.A little of salt soln. is warmed
with NaOH soln.
b. To a very little of salt soln.,
add Nessler's Reagent.a. Pungent smelling gas producing
thick white fumes with conc. HCl
b. A brown ppt.NH4+ confirmed2.Lead Ion
a. To a litte of salt soln., KI soln. is
added.
b. To a little of salt soln., acetic acid
and Potassium chromate solns.
addeda. A yellow ppt. soluble in hot water
and reappear as golden spangle
on cooling
b. A yellow ppt.Pb2+ confirmed3.Copper Ion
a. NH4OH is added drop by drop
and then in excess to a little of the
salt soln.
b. To a little of the salt soln., acetic
acid and potassium ferrocyanide
solns. are added.a. A light blue ppt. dissolved in excess
to form deep blue soln.
b. A chocolate brown ppt,Cu2+ confirmed4.Aluminium Ion
To a little of the salt soln. NaOH is
added first drop by drop and then
in excess.Gelatinous white ppt. soluble in excessAl3+ confirmed5.Ferric ion
To a little of the salt soln. NaOH is
added first drop by drop and then
in excess.Reddish brown ppt.Fe3+ confirmed6.Zinc Ion
To a little of the salt soln. acetic acid
and potassium ferrocyanide solns.
are addedWhite ppt.Zn2+ confirmed7.Manganese Ion
To a little of the salt soln. NaOH is
added first drop by drop and then
in excess.White ppt. soluble in excess and turns
brown in airMn2+ confirmed8.Nickel Ion
a.To a little of the salt soln. NaOH is
added first drop by drop and then
in excess.
b. To a little of the salt soln., NH4Cl
NH4OH and DMG solns. are
added.a.Light green ppt soluble in excess
b.Rose red ppt.Ni2+ confirmed9.Cobalt Ion
a.To a little of salt soln, NH4OH and
potassium ferrocyanide solns. are
added.
b.To a little of the salt soln.
ammonium thiocyanate is addeda.A reddish brown ppt.
b. Blue ColorationCo2+ confirmed10.Barium Ion
To a little of salt soln. acetic acid &
potassium chromate solns. are addedA yellow ppt.Ba2+ confirmed11.Calcium Ion
To a little of the salt soln. NH4Cl,
NH4OH and [(NH4)2C2O4] solns.
are added.White ppt.Ca2+ confirmed12.Strontium Ion
To a little of the salt soln. acetic acid
and calcium sulphate solns. are addedA white ppt.Sr2+ confirmed13.Magnesium Ion
To a little of the salt soln. Magneson
reagent and excess NaOH are addedBlue ppt.Mg2+ confirmed