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 |
|---|---|---|
| Add conc. H₂SO₄ to the solution and boil with a few copper turnings/chips | On heating, brown fumes (NO₂) are evolved in excess and the solution becomes blue | NO₃⁻ may be present |
| Confirmatory Test | ||
| Brown Ring Test Take 1 mL of salt solution, add 2 mL conc. H₂SO₄, cool, then add freshly prepared ferrous sulphate solution along the sides | Brown ring is formed at the junction of the two solutions | NO₃⁻ is confirmed |
| Experiment | Observation | Inference |
|---|---|---|
| Confirmatory Tests | ||
| If Group V is absent, add disodium hydrogen phosphate solution and scratch the inner walls with a glass rod | A white crystalline precipitate of magnesium ammonium phosphate is formed | Mg²⁺ may be present |
| Magneson Test To the alkaline solution add a drop of Magneson I reagent (p-nitrobenzeneazoresorcinol) | A blue precipitate / blue lake is formed | Mg²⁺ is confirmed |
The given salt contains Mg²⁺ as the cation (basic radical) and NO₃⁻ as the anion (acidic radical). The salt is Magnesium Nitrate (Mg(NO₃)₂).