Qualitative inorganic analysis


Classical qualitative inorganic analysis is a method of analytical chemistry which seeks to find the elemental composition of inorganic compounds. It is mainly focused on detecting ions in an aqueous solution, therefore materials in other forms may need to be brought to this state before using standard methods. The solution is then treated with various reagents to test for reactions characteristic of certain ions, which may cause color change, precipitation and other visible changes.
Qualitative inorganic analysis is that branch or method of analytical chemistry which seeks to establish the elemental composition of inorganic compounds through various reagents.

Physical appearance of inorganic salts

Detecting cations

According to their properties, cations are usually classified into six groups. Each group has a common reagent which can be used to separate them from the solution. To obtain meaningful results, the separation must be done in the sequence specified below, as some ions of an earlier group may also react with the reagent of a later group, causing ambiguity as to which ions are present. This happens because cationic analysis is based on the solubility products of the ions. As the cation gains its optimum concentration needed for precipitation it precipitates and hence allowing us to detect it. The division and precise details of separating into groups vary slightly from one source to another; given below is one of the commonly used schemes.

1st analytical group of cations

The 1st analytical group of cations consists of ions that form insoluble chlorides. As such, the group reagent to separate them is hydrochloric acid, usually used at a concentration of 1-2 M. Concentrated HCl must not be used, because it forms a soluble complex with Pb2+. Consequently, the Pb2+ ion would go undetected.
The most important cations in the 1st group are Ag+, Hg, and Pb2+. The chlorides of these elements cannot be distinguished from each other by their colour - they are all white solid compounds. PbCl2 is soluble in hot water, and can therefore be differentiated easily. Ammonia is used as a reagent to distinguish between the other two. While AgCl dissolves in ammonia, Hg2Cl2 gives a black precipitate consisting of a mixture of chloro-mercuric amide and elemental mercury. Furthermore, AgCl is reduced to silver under light, which gives samples a violet colour.
PbCl2 is far more soluble than the chlorides of the other two ions, especially in hot water. Therefore, HCl in concentrations which completely precipitate Hg and Ag+ may not be sufficient to do the same to Pb2+. Higher concentrations of Cl cannot be used for the before mentioned reasons. Thus, a filtrate obtained after first group analysis of Pb2+ contains an appreciable concentration of this cation, enough to give the test of the second group, viz. formation of an insoluble sulfide. For this reason, Pb2+ is usually also included in the 2nd analytical group.
This group can be determined by adding the salt in water and then adding dilute hydrochloric acid. A white precipitate is formed, to which ammonia is then added. If the precipitate is insoluble, then Pb2+ is present; if the precipitate is soluble, then Ag+ is present, and if the white precipitate turns black, then Hg is present.
Confirmation test for Pb2+:
Confirmation test for Ag+:
Confirmation test for Hg:

2nd analytical group of cations

The 2nd analytical group of cations consists of ions that form acid-insoluble sulphides. Cations in the 2nd group include: Cd2+, Bi3+, Cu2+, As3+, As5+, Sb3+, Sb5+, Sn2+, Sn4+ and Hg2+. Pb2+ is usually also included here in addition to the first group. Although these methods refer to solutions that contain sulphide, these solutions actually only contain H2S and bisulphide. Sulphide does not exist in appreciable concentrations in water.
The reagent used can be any substance that gives S2− ions in such solutions; most commonly used are hydrogen sulphide, thioacetamide, addition of hydrogen sulphide can often prove to be a lumbersome process and therefore sodium sulphide can also serve the purpose. The test with the sulfide ion must be conducted in the presence of dilute HCl. Its purpose is to keep the sulphide ion concentration at a required minimum, so as to allow the precipitation of 2nd group cations alone. If dilute acid is not used, the early precipitation of 3rd group cations may occur, thus leading to misleading results. Acids beside HCl are rarely used. Sulphuric acid may lead to the precipitation of the 5th group cations, whereas nitric acid oxidises the sulphide ion in the reagent, forming colloidal sulphur.
The precipitates of these cations are almost indistinguishable, except for CdS, which is yellow. All the precipitates, except for HgS, are soluble in dilute nitric acid. HgS is soluble only in aqua regia, which can be used to separate it from the rest. The action of ammonia is also useful in differentiating the cations. CuS dissolves in ammonia forming an intense blue solution, whereas CdS dissolves forming a colourless solution. The sulphides of As3+, As5+, Sb3+, Sb5+, Sn2+, Sn4+ are soluble in yellow ammonium sulphide, where they form polysulphide complexes.
This group is determined by adding the salt in water and then adding dilute hydrochloric acid followed by hydrogen sulphide gas. Usually it is done by passing hydrogen sulphide over the test tube for detection of 1st group cations. If it forms a reddish-brown or black precipitate then Bi3+, Cu2+, Hg2+ or Pb2+ is present. Otherwise, if it forms a yellow precipitate, then Cd2+ or Sn4+ is present; or if it forms a brown precipitate, then Sn2+ must be present; or if a red orange precipitate is formed, then Sb3+ is present.
Confirmation test for copper:
Confirmation test for bismuth:
Confirmation test for mercury:

3rd analytical group of cations

The 3rd analytical group of cations includes ions that form hydroxides which are insoluble even at low concentrations. The reagents are similar to these of the 2nd group, but separation is conducted at pH of 8-9. Occasionally, a buffer solution is used to ensure this pH.
Cations in the 3rd group are, among others: Fe2+, Fe3+, Al3+, and Cr3+.
The group is determined by making a solution of the salt in water and adding ammonium chloride and ammonium hydroxide. Ammonium chloride is added to ensure low concentration of hydroxide ions.
The formation of a reddish-brown precipitate indicates Fe3+; a gelatinous white precipitate indicates Al3+; and a green precipitate indicates Cr3+ or Fe2+. These last two are distinguished by adding sodium hydroxide in excess to the green precipitate. If the precipitate dissolves, Cr3+ is indicated; otherwise, Fe2+ is present.
1st group of basic radicals is Ag+,Mg2+,Pb2+

4th analytical group of cations

They contain Zn2+, Mn2+, Ni2+ and Co2+

5th analytical group of cations

Ions in 5th analytical group of cations form carbonates that are insoluble in water. The reagent usually used is 2CO3, with a neutral or slightly basic pH. All the cations in the previous groups are separated beforehand, since many of them also form insoluble carbonates.
The most important ions in the 5th group are Ba2+, Ca2+, and Sr2+. After separation, the easiest way to distinguish between these ions is by testing flame colour: barium gives a yellow-green flame, calcium gives brick red, and strontium, crimson red.

6th analytical group of cations

Cations which are left after carefully separating previous groups are considered to be in the sixth analytical group. The most important ones are Mg2+, Li+, Na+ and K+. All the ions are distinguished by flame color: lithium gives a red flame, sodium gives bright yellow, potassium gives violet, and magnesium, colorless.

Detecting anions

1st analytical group of anions

The 1st group of anions consist of CO, HCO, CH3COO, S2−, SO, Thiosulfate| and NO. The reagent for Group 1 anions is dilute hydrochloric acid or dilute sulfuric acid.
The 2nd group of anions consist of Cl, Br, I, NO and CO. The group reagent for Group 2 anion is concentrated sulphuric acid.
After addition of the acid, chlorides, bromides and iodides will form precipitates with silver nitrate. The precipitates are white, pale yellow, and yellow, respectively. The silver halides formed are completely soluble, partially soluble, or not soluble at all, respectively, in aqueous ammonia solution.
Chlorides are confirmed by the chromyl chloride test. When the salt is heated with K2Cr2O7 and concentrated H2SO4, red vapours of chromyl chloride are produced. Passing this gas through a solution of NaOH produces a yellow solution of Na2CrO4. The acidified solution of Na2CrO4 gives a yellow precipitate with the addition of 2Pb.
Bromides and iodides are confirmed by the layer test. A sodium carbonate extract is made from the solution containing bromide or iodide, and CHCl3 or carbon disulfide| is added to the solution, which separates into two layers: an orange colour in the or layer indicates the presence of Br, and a violet colour indicates the presence of I.
Nitrates give brown fumes with concentrated H2SO4 due to formation of NO2. This is intensified upon adding copper turnings. Nitrate ion is confirmed by adding an aqueous solution of the salt to FeSO4 and pouring concentrated H2SO4 slowly along the sides of the test tube, which produces a brown ring around the walls of the tube, at the junction of the two liquids caused by the formation of.
Upon treatment with concentrated sulphuric acid, oxalates yield colourless CO2 and CO gases. These gases burn with a bluish flame and turn lime water milky. Oxalates also decolourise KMnO4 and give a white precipitate with CaCl2.

3rd analytical group of anions

The 3rd group of anions consist of SO, PO and BO. They react neither with concentrated nor diluted H2SO4.
Qualitative inorganic analysis is now used only as a pedagogical tool. Modern techniques such as atomic absorption spectroscopy and ICP-MS are able to quickly detect the presence and concentrations of elements using a very small amount of sample.

Sodium carbonate test

The sodium carbonate test is used to distinguish between some common metal ions, which are precipitated as their respective carbonates. The test can distinguish between copper, iron, and calcium, zinc or lead. Sodium carbonate solution is added to the salt of the metal. A blue precipitate indicates Cu2+ ion. A dirty green precipitate indicates Fe2+ ion. A yellow-brown precipitate indicates Fe3+ ion. A white precipitate indicates Ca2+, Zn2+, or Pb2+ ion. The compounds formed are, respectively, copper carbonate, iron carbonate, iron oxide, calcium carbonate, zinc carbonate, and lead carbonate. This test is used to precipitate the ion present as almost all carbonates are insoluble. While this test is useful for telling these cations apart, it fails if other ions are present, because most metal carbonates are insoluble and will precipitate. In addition, calcium, zinc, and lead ions all produce white precipitates with carbonate, making it difficult to distinguish between them. Instead of sodium carbonate, sodium hydroxide may be added, this gives nearly the same colours, except that lead and zinc hydroxides are soluble in excess alkali, and can hence be distinguished from calcium. See qualitative inorganic analysis for the complete sequence of tests used for qualitative cation analysis.