Anions

Group 1 :( Salt + Dil. H2SO4)

-2
1. Colour/Odorless Gas with brisk effervescence – Carbonate(CO3 )
a. Aq. Sol + MgSO4 gives white ppt
i. Na2CO3 + H2SO4 → Na2SO4 + CO2 + H2O
ii. CO2 + CaOH → CaCO3
iii. Na2CO3 + MgSO4 → Na2SO4 + MgCO3
2. Colourless gas with bad/pungent smell, turns (CH3COO)2Pb(lead acetate) paper Black – Sulphide
-2
(S )
a. Aq Sol + Sodium Nitroprusside gives violet colour
i. Na2S + H2SO4 → H2S + NaSO4
ii. H2S + (CH3COO)2Pb → PbS(Black)
iii. Na2S + Na2[Fe(CN)5NO] → Na4[Fe(CN)5NOS]
-2
3. Colourless gas with pungent odour, turns K2Cr2O7 paper green - Sulphite (SO3 )
a. Aq. Sol + BaCl2 gives white ppt, soluble in conc. HCl
i. Na2SO3 + H2SO4 → Na2SO4 + H2O + SO2
ii. SO2 + K2CrO7 + H2SO4 → K2SO4 + Cr2(SO4)3 + HCl
iii. Na2SO3 + BaCl2 → NaCl + BaSO3 → BaCl2 + SO2 + H2O
-
4. Brown fumes, treatment with dil. H2SO4 changes colour to orange - Nitrite (NO2 )
a. Aq. Sol + FeSO4 gives Black ppt
i. NaNO2 + H2SO4 → 2HNO2 + Na2SO4
ii. 3HNO2 → H2O + NO2 + HNO3
iii. FeSO4 + NO → FeSO4NO

Group 2 :( Salt + Conc. H2SO4)

-)
1. Pungent Smelling gas gives white fumes with rod dipped in NH4OH – Chloride (Cl
a. Aq. Sol + AgNO3 gives white ppt, soluble in NH4OH
b. Chromyl Chloride Test : Salt + Potassium Dichromate + conc. H2SO4 gives orange vapours
on heating, NaOH vapours passed gives yellow solution, acetic acid + lead acetate added
gives yellow ppt.
i. NaCl + H2SO4 → HCl +NaHSO4
ii. HCl + NH4OH → NH4Cl
iii. AgNO3 + NaCl → AgCl
iv. AgCl + NH4OH → Ag(NH3)2Cl + H2O
v. 2NaCl + K2Cr2O7 + 3H2SO4 → K2SO4 + Na2SO4 + 2CrO2Cl2
vi. CrO2Cl2 + 4NaOH → Na2CrO4 + 2NaCl + 2H2O
vii. Na2CrO4 + (CH3COO)2Pb → 2 CH3COONa + PbCrO4
-
2. Brown Fumes, Do not intensify on adding Copper Turnings – Bromide (Br )
a. AgNO3 Test : Aq. Sol + AgNO3 sol. Gives creamy yellow ppt. partially soluble in NH4OH
b. Layer Test : Aq. Sol + KMnO4 + conHNO3(1:4) shake well + CHCl3 → Yellow Layer
i. NaBr + H2SO4 → NaHSO4 + HBr
ii. 2HBr + O2 → Br2 + O2
iii. NaBr + AgNO3 → AgBr + NaNO3
iv. AgBr + NH4OH → Ag(NH3)2Br
v. NaBr + Cl2 → 2NaCl + Br2
vi. Br2 + CCl4 → Yellow Layer
-
3. Violet Fumes – Iodide (I )
a. AgNO3 Test : gives yellow ppt insoluble in NH4OH
b. Layer Test : Violet Layer
i. All of Br- except no iv
4. Brown Fumes which intensify with addition of copper turnings (Without, barely visible) – Nitrate
-
(NO3 )
 a. Ring Test : Aq. Sol + FeSO4 Drip conc. H2SO4 from the side of the test tube
i. NaNO3 + H2SO4 → NaHSO4 + HNO3
ii. 4HNO3 (Heat) → 4NO2 + H2O + O2
iii. Cu + HNO3 → Cu(NO3)2 + 2NO2 + 2NO
iv. FeSO4 + HNO3 + H2SO4 → FeSO4.NO Ring Test
-
5. Colourless gas with vinegar like smell – Acetate (CH3COO )
a. FeCl3 + Aq. Sol → Blood Red Colour
i. CH3COONa + H2SO4 → NaHSO4 + CH3COOH
ii. CH3COONa + FeCl3 → (CH3COO)3Fe + NaCl
2-)
6. Colourless, Odourless Gas, turns limewater milky – Oxalate (C2O4
a. Acidified KMnO4 + Na2C2O4 → Decolourises KMnO4
b. Aq. Sol + CaCl2 → White ppt.
i. Na2C2O4 + H2SO4 → Na2SO4 + CO2 + H2O
2- - + +2
ii. 5C2O4 + 2MnO4 + 16 H → 2Mn + 10CO2 + 8H2O
iii. Na2C2O4 + CaCl2 → CaC2O4 + 2NaCl

Group 3: (Independent Group)

2-
1. Sulphate (SO4 )
a. Aq. Sol. + BaCl2 (soln) gives a white ppt, insoluble in conc. HCl.
i. Aq. Sol + (CH3COO)Pb + Acetic Acid → White ppt
ii. Na2SO4 + BaCl2 → 2NaCl + BaSO4
iii. Na2SO4 + (CH3COO)2Pb → PbSO4 + CH3COONa
3-
2. Phosphate ( PO4 )
a. Aq. Sol + HNO3 (conc), heat, add Ammonium Molybdate, heat again to give yellow ppt.
i. Na3PO4 + 2HNO3 + 12(NH4)MoO4 → (NH4)3PO4.12MoO3 + 21NH4NO3 + 12H2O
Cations

1. Zero Group
+
a. Salt + NaOH gives pungent smelling gas, white fumes with conc HCl rod – NH4
i. Aq. Sol + NaOH + Nessler’s Reagent → Brownish yellow ppt
1. NH4C2O4 + NaOH → NH3 + Na2C2O4 + H2O
2. NH3 + HCl → NH4Cl
-
3. NH4C2O4 + K2HgI4 → H2N – HgO – HgI2 + C2O4
2. Group 1 (OS + dil HCl)
+2
a. White ppt, soluble in hot water – Lead (Pb )
i. Divide sol into 2
1. Add KI gives yellow ppt
2. Add K2Cr2O7 gives yellow ppt
ii. Pb(NO3)2 + HCl → PbCl2 + HNO3
iii. PbCl2 + 2KI → PbI2
iv. PbCl2 + K2CrO4 → PbCrO4 + 2KCl
3. Group 2 (Group 1 Sol, pass H2S)
+2
a. Black ppt – Copper (Cu )
i. Add 50% HNO3 and heat. Add NH4OH in excess and divide
1. Divide sol into 2 parts
a. CH3COOH and Potassium Ferrocyanide gives Chocolate Brown
ppt
b. CH3COOH and KI gives white ppt
ii. CuS + HNO3 → Cu(NO3)2
+2
iii. Cu(NO3)2 + NH4OH → [Cu(NH3)4] (OH)2
+2 -2
iv. Cu + [Fe(CN)6] → Cu2[Fe(CN)6]
+2 -
v. Cu + I → CuI2
+3
b. Yellow Solution – Arsenic (As )
 i. Add 50% HNO3 and Ammonium Molybdate added to yellow solution which is
heated strongly to give yellow ppt
ii. As2S3 + HNO3 → 2H2AsO4 + 10NO2 + 3S + H2O
iii. H2AsO4 + 12(NH4)MoO4 + 21 HNO3 → (NH4)3AsO4 + 12MoO4 + 21(NH4)NO3 +
12H2O

4. Group 3 (add HNO3, boil off H2S add NH4Cl (solid), cool and add NH4OH in excess)
+2 +3
a. Reddish Brown ppt – Ferrous/Ferric (Fe /Fe )
i. Filter ppt and dissolve in dil. HCl Divide into 3 parts
1. Add Ammonium Sulphocyanide/ Ammonium Thiocyanate →blood red
colour
2. Add K4[Fe(CN)6] → Deep Blue Ppt
3. Add NaOH → white ppt
ii. FeCl3 + 3NH4OH → Fe(OH)3 + 3NH4Cl
iii. Fe(OH)3 + 3HCl → FeCl3 + 3H2O
iv. FeCl3 + 3NH4SCN → Fe(SCN)3 + 3NH4Cl

v. FeCl3 + 3NaOH → Fe(OH)3 + 3NaCl

+3
b. Gelatinous White ppt – Aluminium (Al )
i. Filter and dissolve in dil HCl. Add few drops of blue litmus and NH4OH in excess
→ Red solution with blue lake is formed
ii. AlCl3 + 3NH4OH → NH4Cl + Al(OH)3
iii. Al(OH)3 + 3HCl → AlCl3 + 3H2O
c. Divide solution into 3 parts

5. Group 4 (Group 3 Solution, pass H2S gas)

+2
a. Dirty White/Grey ppt – Zinc (Zn )
i. Filter and dissolve ppt in HCl. Divide into 2
1. Add K4[Fe(CN)6] → Greenish white ppt
2. NaOH → White ppt
ii. ZnS + HCl → ZnCl2 + H2S(gas)
iii. ZnCl2 + NaOH → Zn(OH)2 + 2NaCl
iv. Zn(OH)2 + NaOH → Na2ZNO2 + 2H2O
v. ZnCl2 + K4[Fe(CN)6] → Zn2[Fe(CN)6] + 4KCl
+2
b. Buff ppt – Manganese (Mn )
i. Filter and dissolve ppt in HCl, add NaOH gives white ppt
ii. MnS + 2HCl → MnCl2 + H2S
iii. MnCl2 + 2NaOH → Mn(OH)2 + 2NaCl
+2 +2
c. Black ppt – Ni /Co
i. Filter ppt and dissolve in aqua regia, heat and divide into 2 parts
+2
1. Add dimethylglyoxime and NH4OH solution – Cherry red ppt, Ni
confirmed
+2
2. Add NaOH – Sky blue/ Prussian Blue colour, Co confirmed
6. Group 5 (Group 3 Sol + (NH4)2CO3)
a. White ppt
i. Dissolve in acetic acid and divide into 3
+2
1. Add K2CrO4 → Yellow ppt (Ba )
+2
2. Add (NH4)2SO4 → White ppt (Sr )
+2
3. Add Ammonium Oxalate → White ppt(Ca )
ii. All reactions are similar for Ba/Sr/Ca – check indi reactions for final
iii. BaCl2 + (NH4)2CO3 → BaCO3 + NH4Cl
iv. BaCO3 + CH3COOH → (CH3COO)2Ba + CO2 + H2O
v. Barium (CH3COO)2Ba + K2CrO4 → CH3COOK + BaCrO4
 vi. Strontium (CH3COO)2Sr + (NH4)2SO4 → 2CH3COONH4 + SrSO4
vii. Calcium (CH3COO)2Ca + (NH4)2C2O4 → 2CH3COONH4 + CaC2O4

b. Alternatively, Flame test can be used

i. Take a Platinum Wire/Glass Rod dipped in conc. HCl and rub in salt. Place in
Flame
+2
1. Apple green Flame → Ba
+2
2. Sparkling Red Flame → Sr
+2
3. Brick Red Flame → Ca
7. Group 6 (Group 3 + (NH4)2HPO4 Ammonium Orthophosphate)
2+
a. White ppt – Mg
i. MgCl2 + NH4OH + (NH4)2HPO4 → MgNH4PO4 + 2NH4Cl + H2O

TIPS
1. If Phosphate Anion is present, Group 1 and V of Cation is absent
2. Anion If Ammonium is present is oxalate
3. If Lead is present, anion is either nitrate or oxalate, If nitrate is suspected, heat and hear a
cracking noise
+2
4. If Sulphate is detected, Barium, Calcium, Lead and Sr are absent
5. Probability of Arsenic/ Nickel/Cobalt is very low since aq sol has to be given
6. Nitrates, Nitrites, Acetates, Carbonates (Alkali Metal and NH4) are water soluble, rest dissolve in
Dil. HCl
7. If OS is prepared in Dil HCl Group 1 is absent [quite obviously]
8. Colour can give ideas
a. Pink – Manganese
b. Blue – Copper
c. Deep Yellow/large granule size – Magnesium (Suspect to be wrong), Mg salts tend to
look wet.