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Systematic salt analysis – anion groups and the cation group scheme

ChemistryInorganic ChemistryAges 17–18Virtual lab

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Virtual lab for the systematic analysis of a simple salt: preliminary tests (appearance, original solution, dry heating, flame test), anions by groups (dilute H₂SO₄ group CO₃²⁻, S²⁻, SO₃²⁻, NO₂⁻, CH₃COO⁻; concentrated H₂SO₄ group Cl⁻, Br⁻, I⁻, NO₃⁻ with the brown ring test, C₂O₄²⁻; independent group SO₄²⁻, PO₄³⁻) and cations by the group scheme 0–VI with group reagents and confirmatory tests (NH₄⁺, Pb²⁺, Cu²⁺, Fe³⁺, Al³⁺, Co²⁺, Ni²⁺, Mn²⁺, Zn²⁺, Ca²⁺, Sr²⁺, Ba²⁺, Mg²⁺, then Na⁺ and K⁺ by the flame test). Every test adds a row to the experiment–observation–inference table, and a random unknown salt gives consistent results through the whole scheme.

Lesson: Systematic qualitative analysis of a simple salt

What it shows

Systematic salt analysis identifies the cation and the anion of a simple salt in a fixed order. Anions are tested first with dilute and then concentrated sulfuric acid, which release characteristic gases, and the independent group is tested with barium chloride and ammonium molybdate. Cations are separated into groups 0 to VI by group reagents that precipitate one group at a time, and confirmatory tests then pick out a single ion. The simulation uses textbook observations for 35 salts; each ion gives the same result in every test, and a few typical interferences are included.

How to use

Choose Unknown salt or Known salt in Mode. In the Preliminary, Anions and Cations tabs, pick a test in Test and press Do test: the bench shows the result and a row is added to the observation table. Prepare the Original solution first, then add the group reagents in order (group 0 and I, then II to VI) and use the confirmatory tests of the group that gave a precipitate. Finally choose the cation, the anion and the cation group, and press Check. Tick Show inferences to see the inference column.

Parameters you can change

  • Mode Unknown salt (random), Known salt (practice)
  • Salt ammonium chloride, NH₄Cl, ammonium bromide, NH₄Br, ammonium sulfate, (NH₄)₂SO₄, ammonium carbonate, (NH₄)₂CO₃, ammonium oxalate, (NH₄)₂C₂O₄, ammonium hydrogenphosphate, (NH₄)₂HPO₄, lead(II) nitrate, Pb(NO₃)₂, lead(II) ethanoate, Pb(CH₃COO)₂, copper(II) sulfate, CuSO₄·5H₂O, copper(II) carbonate, CuCO₃, copper(II) nitrate, Cu(NO₃)₂, iron(III) chloride, FeCl₃, aluminium sulfate, Al₂(SO₄)₃, aluminium nitrate, Al(NO₃)₃, cobalt(II) chloride, CoCl₂·6H₂O, nickel(II) sulfate, NiSO₄·7H₂O, manganese(II) sulfate, MnSO₄, zinc sulfate, ZnSO₄·7H₂O, zinc carbonate, ZnCO₃, zinc ethanoate, Zn(CH₃COO)₂, calcium carbonate, CaCO₃, calcium chloride, CaCl₂, strontium chloride, SrCl₂, strontium nitrate, Sr(NO₃)₂, barium chloride, BaCl₂, barium nitrate, Ba(NO₃)₂, magnesium sulfate, MgSO₄·7H₂O, magnesium carbonate, MgCO₃, sodium sulfide, Na₂S, sodium sulfite, Na₂SO₃, sodium nitrite, NaNO₂, sodium ethanoate, CH₃COONa, potassium iodide, KI, potassium bromide, KBr, potassium nitrate, KNO₃
  • Show inferences

Questions to explore

  1. Why must the group reagents for the cations be added in order, from group I to group VI?
  2. Why is NH₄Cl added before NH₄OH in the group III test?
  3. Why do the silver nitrate and barium chloride tests use the sodium carbonate extract?

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