Flowchart for the analysis of cations in salts

Cation solution

Test 1: add a little NaOH

Precipitation???

Coloured precipitation

No precipitate White precipitate Blue Green Brown

On heating Add excess

NaOH
Cation solution
Gas turns red litmus paper to
blue/ produce white fume
with concentrated Precipitate dissolves Precipitate does not Test 2 Add NH3
hydrochloric acid dissolves
Coloured precipitate
Blue Green Brown
Cation solution
Cation solution
Test 2 Add excess Add
Cation solution NH3 Test 2 Add excess excess Cation solution
NH3 NH3

White precipitate White precipitate Test 2 Add Nessler

Test 2 Nessler Dark blue solution
dissolves in excess insoluble in excess White reagent
reagent No
precipitate precipitate is Brown
formed
Precipitate
Brown Precipitate
Cation solution
Cation solution
Test 3 Add K3Fe(CN)6
Test 3 Add KI

No Precipitate Dark blue precipitate

Yellow Precipitate

CKL 2018 21