Notebook Theme

Analysis of Arsenic(III) Nitrite (As(NO₂)₃)

Qualitative analysis

Aim

To analyse the given inorganic salt for one acidic and one basic radical.

Preliminary Test

  • Colour: White
  • Odour: Odourless
  • State: Crystalline solid
  • Solubility: Soluble in water

Test of Anion (NO₂⁻)

ExperimentObservationInference
Warm the solid salt with dilute H₂SO₄Brown fumes of NO₂ are evolvedNO₂⁻ may be present
Confirmatory Tests
Potassium Iodide Starch Test
Take evolved gas and add KI + starch solution acidified with acetic acid
Blue colour appearsNO₂⁻ is confirmed
Sulphanilic Acid / 1-Naphthylamine Test
Acidify 1 mL of water extract with acetic acid and add sulphanilic acid solution followed by 1-naphthylamine reagent
Red colour is formedNO₂⁻ is confirmed

Test of Cation (As³⁺)

ExperimentObservationInference
Original solution + H₂S gas in presence of dil. HCl and NH₄ClYellow precipitate is formedGroup-II-B (As³⁺) may be present
Confirmatory Test
Ammonium Molybdate Test
Treat the dissolved precipitate with concentrated nitric acid and ammonium molybdate solution
Canary yellow precipitate is formedPresence of As³⁺ is confirmed

Result

The given salt contains As³⁺ as the cation (basic radical) and NO₂⁻ as the anion (acidic radical). The salt is Arsenic(III) Nitrite (As(NO₂)₃).

Precautions

  1. Handle the chemicals with care.
  2. Don't use excess of chemicals.
  3. Keep the mouth of the test tube away from the face.