1 Key Points

Analytical Chemistry

1. When sodium hydroxide solution is added first drop by drop and
then in excess to the salt solutions of magnesium, iron (II), iron (III),
copper (II), zinc and lead, following observations are made as
shown in table below :
2. Action of sodium hydroxide on soluble salts of
Mg
2+
, Fe
2+
, Fe
3+
, Cu
2+
, Zn
2+
and Pb
2+
.
Given salt + NaOH Sodium Salt + Precipitate
1. MgCl
2
+2NaOH 2NaCl +Mg(OH)
2

Mg(OH)
2
is a dull white ppt. insoluble in excess of NaOH
2. FeSO
4
+2NaOH Na
2
SO
4
+Fe(OH)
2

Fe(OH)
2
is a dirty green ppt. insoluble in excess of NaOH
3. FeCl
3
+3NaOH 3NaCl +Fe(OH)
3

Fe(OH)
3
is a reddish brown ppt. insoluble in excess of NaOH.
4. CuSO
4
+2NaOH Na
2
SO
4
+Cu(OH)
2

Cu(OH)
2
is pale blue ppt. insoluble in excess of NaOH.
Ion Colour of salt solution Colour of ppt. when NaOH is
added drop by drop
Colour of ppt/sol with excess
of NaOH sol.
Mg
2+
Magnesium chloride
(Colourless)
Mg(OH)
2
dull white ppt. Dull white ppt. insoluble in
excess.
Fe
2+
Iron (II) Sulphate
(light green)
Fe(OH)
3
Dirty green ppt.
Dirty green ppt. insoluble in
excess.
Fe
3+
Iron (III) chloride
(reddish brown)
Fe(OH)
3
Reddish brown ppt Reddish brown ppt.
insoluble in excess.
Cu
2+
Copper (II) Sulphate
(blue)
Cu(OH)
2
Pale blue ppt. Pale blue ppt. insoluble in
excess.
Zn
2+

Zinc Sulphate
(colourless)

Zn(OH)
2
White gelatin like Colourless sol. due to the
formation ppt. of sodium
zincate
Pb
2+
Lead nitrate(colourless)
Pb(OH)
2
Chalky white ppt. Colourless sol. due to the
formation of sodium plumbite

2 Key Points

5. ZnSO
4
+2NaOH Na
2
SO
4
+Zn(OH)
2

Zn(OH)
2
is a gelatin like white ppt. soluble in excess of NaOH.
6. Pb(NO
3
)
2
+2NaOH 2NaNO
3
+Pb(OH)
2

Pb(OH)
2
is a chalky white ppt., soluble in excess of NaOH.
3. When ammonium hydroxide solution is added first drop by drop and
then in excess to the salt solution of magnesium, iron (II), iron (III),
copper (II), zinc and lead, following observations are made as
shown in table below :
4. Action of ammonium hydroxide on soluble salts of
Mg
2+
, Fe
2+
, Fe
3+
, Cu
2+
, Zn
2+
and Pb
2+
.
Given salt + NH
4
OH Ammonium salt + precipitate
MgCl
2
+2NH
4
OH 2NH
4
Cl +Mg(OH)
2

FeSO
4
+2NH
4
OH (NH
4
)
2
SO
4
+Fe(OH)
2

FeCl
3
+3NH
4
OH 3NH
4
Cl +Fe(OH)
3

CuSO
4
+2NH
4
OH (NH
4
)
2
SO
4
+Cu(OH)
2

ZnSO
4
+2NH
4
OH (NH
4
)
2
SO
4
+Zn(OH)
2

Pb(NO
3
)
2
+2NH
4
OH 2NH
4
NO
3
+Pb(OH)
2

Ion Colour of salt solution Colour of ppt. when NaOH is
added drop by drop
Colour of ppt./sol. with excess
of NH
4
OH sol.
Mg
2+
Magnesium chloride
(Colourless)
Mg(OH)
2
dull white ppt. Dull white ppt. insoluble in
excess.
Fe
2+
Iron (II) Sulphate
(light green)
Fe(OH)
2
Dirty green ppt. Dirty green ppt. insoluble in
excess.
Fe
3+
Iron (III) chloride
(reddish brown)
Fe(OH)
3
Reddish brown ppt Reddish brown ppt. insoluble
in excess.
Cu
2+
Copper (II) Sulphate
(blue)
Cu(OH)
2
Pale blue ppt. deep blue or inky blue sol.
due to the formation complex
salt [Cu(NH
3
)]
4
SO
4

Zn
2+

Zinc Sulphate
(colourless)
Zn(OH)
2
White gelatin like Colourless sol. due to the
formation of complex salt
[Zn(NH
3
)
4
] SO
4

Pb
2+
Lead nitrate
(colourless)
Pb(OH)
2
Chalky white ppt. Chalky white ppt. insoluble in
excess.