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 the salt with dilute H₂SO₄ | Colourless gas with smell of rotten eggs is evolved | S²⁻ may be present |
| Confirmatory Tests | ||
| Lead Acetate Test Pass gas through filter paper dipped in lead acetate solution | Paper turns black | S²⁻ is confirmed |
| Sodium Nitroprusside Test Make solution alkaline with NH₄OH (or sodium carbonate extract) and add sodium nitroprusside solution | Purple/violet colouration is produced | S²⁻ is confirmed |
| Experiment | Observation | Inference |
|---|---|---|
| Take 0.1 g of salt and add 1–2 mL of NaOH solution, then heat | A smell of ammonia is evolved | NH₄⁺ may be present |
| Bring a glass rod dipped in hydrochloric acid near the mouth of the test tube | Dense white fumes are observed | NH₄⁺ may be present |
| Confirmatory Test | ||
| Nessler's Reagent Test Pass the evolved gas through Nessler’s reagent | Brown colouration or a brown precipitate of basic mercury(II) amido-iodide is obtained | Presence of NH₄⁺ is confirmed |
The given salt contains NH₄⁺ as the cation (basic radical) and S²⁻ as the anion (acidic radical). The salt is Ammonium Sulphide ((NH₄)₂S).