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Experiment No. N

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

Aim

To determine the presence of anion and cation in the given salt

Preliminary Test

  • Odor: Odorless
  • Texture: Crystalline
  • Color: White
  • Solubility: Soluble in water

Test of Anion

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

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⁺ ions as cation and NO₂⁻ ions as anion. The salt is 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.