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Qualitative Analysis: Salt Analysis formula sheet

Every formula in the Qualitative Analysis: Salt Analysis chapter for JEE Main, with one line on when it applies. Topic 1 is open to everyone; sign in free to read all 20 and download the PDF.

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How we count: 7× asked means 7 past JEE Main questions in the PrepWiser bank needed that formula, and "last" is the latest year one appeared. ★ marks formulas asked 8 or more times.

Preliminary tests

Flame test
4× asked, last 2026
Na golden yellow,K lilac,Ca brick redSr crimson,Ba apple green,Cu green, blue centre\begin{aligned}&\ce{Na}\ \text{golden yellow},\quad \ce{K}\ \text{lilac},\quad \ce{Ca}\ \text{brick red}\\&\ce{Sr}\ \text{crimson},\quad \ce{Ba}\ \text{apple green},\quad \ce{Cu}\ \text{green, blue centre}\end{aligned}
Paste with conc. HCl on a Pt wire (chlorides are volatile). No colour: Mg, Zn, Fe, Co, Ni.
Borax bead
5× asked, last 2025
NaX2BX4OX7 ⋅ 10 HX2O→Δ2 NaBOX2+BX2OX3+10 HX2OCuO+BX2OX3→Cu(BOX2)X2\begin{aligned}&\ce{Na2B4O7.10H2O ->[\Delta] 2NaBO2 + B2O3 + 10H2O}\\&\ce{CuO + B2O3 -> Cu(BO2)2}\end{aligned}
Glassy bead on a Pt loop; coloured ions only. Oxidising (non-luminous) flame gives the higher state.
Bead colours
oxidising (hot/cold)reducingCugreen / bluered (Cu metal)Feyellow-brown / yellowgreenCryellow / greengreenNiviolet / red-browngreyMnvioletcolourlessCoblueblue\begin{array}{lll}&\text{oxidising (hot/cold)}&\text{reducing}\\ \ce{Cu}&\text{green / blue}&\text{red (Cu metal)}\\ \ce{Fe}&\text{yellow-brown / yellow}&\text{green}\\ \ce{Cr}&\text{yellow / green}&\text{green}\\ \ce{Ni}&\text{violet / red-brown}&\text{grey}\\ \ce{Mn}&\text{violet}&\text{colourless}\\ \ce{Co}&\text{blue}&\text{blue}\end{array}
MnX2+\ce{Mn^{2+}} and NiX2+\ce{Ni^{2+}} (hot) are both violet in the oxidising flame.

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Practise Qualitative Analysis: Salt Analysis

17 more formulas in 5 topics

Anions: dilute H₂SO₄ group, Anions: conc. H₂SO₄ group and sulphate, Cation groups, Confirmatory tests for cations and Colours of precipitates. Read the first part free. Sign in free with Google to read the rest and download the PDF.

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Anions: dilute H₂SO₄ group

  • Gas evolved and its test5×
  • Sulphide and acetate4×

Anions: conc. H₂SO₄ group and sulphate

  • Vapours with conc. H₂SO₄4×
  • Chromyl chloride test3×
  • Silver nitrate and layer test2×
  • Brown ring test4×
  • Sulphate and phosphate5×

Cation groups

  • Group reagents8×
  • Common-ion control2×

Confirmatory tests for cations

  • NH₄⁺: Nessler5×
  • Pb²⁺4×
  • Cu²⁺6×
  • Fe³⁺ and Al³⁺5×
  • Excess NaOH or NH₄OH
  • Zn²⁺, Mn²⁺, Ni²⁺, Co²⁺12×
  • Ba²⁺, Sr²⁺, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺6×

Colours of precipitates

  • Precipitates by colour10×

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