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 |
|---|---|---|
| Take 0.1 g salt + dilute H₂SO₄ | Colourless vapours with vinegar-like smell evolve | CH₃COO⁻ may be present |
| Confirmatory Tests | ||
| Ester Test Take 0.1 g salt in a test tube with ethanol and a little conc. H₂SO₄, then heat | Fruity odour of ethyl acetate is developed | CH₃COO⁻ is confirmed |
| Ferric Chloride Test Add neutral ferric chloride solution to the salt solution | Deep red colour appears; on heating it disappears and a brown-red precipitate forms | CH₃COO⁻ is confirmed |
| Experiment | Observation | Inference |
|---|---|---|
| Original solution + H₂S gas in presence of NH₄OH | White precipitate is formed | Group IV cation may be present |
| Confirmatory Tests | ||
| Sodium Hydroxide Test Add sodium hydroxide solution dropwise | White precipitate forms and dissolves in excess NaOH on heating | Zn²⁺ is confirmed |
| Potassium Ferrocyanide Test After neutralisation with NH₄OH, add potassium ferrocyanide solution | Bluish-white precipitate | Zn²⁺ is confirmed |
The given salt contains Zn²⁺ as the cation (basic radical) and CH₃COO⁻ as the anion (acidic radical). The salt is Zinc Acetate (Zn(CH₃COO)₂).