Experiment 4

Aim: To analyze the given salt and identify the anion and cation present in it.

S.N
O

EXPERIMENT

OBSERVATION

INFERENCE

Reddish brown

May be presence of
ferric.

Crystalline and
deliquescent

Absence of carbonate

Soluble

Absence of Carbonate

No characteristic
odour

Absence of acetate and

ammonium salts.

No characteristic
reaction

Absence of
Carbonate,sulphite,nitrit
e and sulphide.

Reddish brown
vapors are
evolved.

May be nitrate or
bromide.
NO3--, Br--

Dense

Nitrate is present.

Preliminary Test
1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

COLOUR
The Colour of given
salt is noted.
APPEARANCE
The appearance of the
given salt is noted
SOLUBILITY IN
WATER
A little of the given salt
is dissolved in distilled
water in a test tube
ODOUR
ANION ANALYSIS
ACTION OF
DIL.SULPHURIC ACID
To a little of the substance
taken in a test tube a few
drops of dil. Sulphuric acid
Is added.
ACTION OF
CONC.SULPHURIC
ACID
To a little of the substance
taken in a test tube a few
drops of conc. Sulphuric
acid is added and warmed.
Add Cu turnings to the

above and heat again.

8.

9.

10

11.

12.

To the salt solution add

equal volumes of freshly
prepared ferrous sulphate
solution and a few drops of
conc.sulphuric acid on the
sides of the test tube in
drops.
CATION ANALYSIS
Original solution is
prepared by dissolving the
salt in water
ZEROGROUP
(AMMONIUM)
To a little of the salt sodium
hydroxide solution is added
and heated
I GROUP (LEAD)
To a little of the original
solution dil. HCI is added.
II GROUP (COPPER)
To a little of the original
solution dil. HCI and
Hydrogen sulphide are
added.
III GROUP
(ALUMINIUM, IRON)
To a little of the original
solution ammonium
chloride and ammonium
hydroxide are added.

Reddish brown
Vapors are
evolved and the
solution turns
blue.
A brown ring is
formed at the
junction of two
layers.

NO3--

No characteristic
reaction

Absence of ammonium
Salts
NH4+

No characteristic
reaction

Absence of I group
Pb2+

No characteristic
reaction

Absence of II group
Cu2+

Brown ppt is
formed.

Presence of III
group(may be ferric)
Fe3+

Presence of nitrate is
confirmed.
NO3--

13.

14.

CONFIRMATORY TEST
To the salt Solution add
potassium
ferrocyanide(K4[Fe(CN)6])
solution.
To the salt Solution add
NH4SCN solution.

Prussian blue
coloration is
obtained.

Presence of ferric is
confirmed
Fe3+

Blood red
Presence of Ferric is
coloration is seen. confirmed.
Fe3+

Result: The anion present in the given salt is Nitrate (NO3--) and cation is Fe+3.
The salt is Ferric nitrate Fe(NO3)3.
(Please note below equations for cations and anion to be written on the blank
page of the journal with pencil.)
Equations:
Fe3+
1
.
2
.

Fe3+ + 3OH-

3
.

Fe3+ + 3NH4SCN

Fe3+ + 3K4[Fe(CN)6]

2
.

4HNO3 + Cu

NO3 + FeSO4 + 3H2SO4

FeSO4 + NO

+ 12K+

Ferric ferrocyanide
Fe(SCN)
+ 3NH
3

Ferric sulphocyanate

NO3-- + H2SO4

--

Fe4[Fe(CN)6]

NO3-1
.

Fe(OH)3

2HNO3 + SO42-Cu(NO3)2 + 2NO2

2NO

+ 2H2O

Brown
+ 3Fe2(SO4)3 + 4H2O

FeSO4.NO
Nitroso ferrous sulphate