Qualitative analysis
How to do salt analysis · Viva · Quiz
To analyse the given inorganic salt for one acidic and one basic radical.
| Experiment | Observation | Inference |
|---|---|---|
| Warm 1 mL of water extract or sodium carbonate extract with dilute H₂SO₄ | Colourless gas with pungent smell of burning sulphur is evolved | SO₃²⁻ may be present |
| Confirmatory Tests | ||
| Barium Chloride Test Add barium chloride to water extract or sodium carbonate extract | White precipitate dissolves on adding dilute HCl and SO₂ is evolved | SO₃²⁻ is confirmed |
| KMnO₄ Decolourisation Test Add dilute H₂SO₄ to the barium sulphite precipitate and then very dilute KMnO₄ solution | Colour of potassium permanganate solution is discharged | SO₃²⁻ is confirmed |
| Experiment | Observation | Inference |
|---|---|---|
| Original solution + Dil. HCl + NH₄Cl solid + NH₄OH | White gelatinous precipitate | Al³⁺ may be present |
| Confirmatory Tests | ||
| Dissolve white precipitate in dilute HCl and divide into two parts | To the first part, add sodium hydroxide and warm. A white gelatinous precipitate dissolves in excess sodium hydroxide solution | Aluminium is confirmed |
| Blue Lake Test To the second part, add few drops of blue litmus solution and then NH₄OH dropwise along the sides of the test tube | A blue floating mass appears in colourless solution | Presence of Al³⁺ is confirmed |
The given salt contains Al³⁺ as the cation (basic radical) and SO₃²⁻ as the anion (acidic radical). The salt is Aluminium Sulphite (Al₂(SO₃)₃).