Chemistry Qualitative Salt Analysis Cheatsheet
September 14th, 2007
DPS Vasant Kunj, Education, downLOADS
The Short Story:
Here’s a cheatsheet for qualitative salt analysis with all the common ions and tests included. I left out the ones which are generally not done at school, but in case you feel that I should include something, change any content, etc your suggestions are welcome.
The Long Story:
It’s a known fact that I don’t attend far too many classes at school; and I’m constantly in need of notes and such stuff from others. Having done this for quite a few years, I’ve got into a habit of creating ‘cheatsheets’ for referring to before exams, because I hardly remember anything any day. Take for example the chemistry practicals, almost all of which I didn’t attend last year (and only one of organic this year).
Thus, for today’s chemistry practical (which went sorta fine except I’m not sure of my cation), I made a reference sheet for qualitative salt analysis. I wouldn’t have done it, but the Web doesn’t seem to have any good stuff on this. The upshot was that I was working till 1.42 am typing out stuff that I dozed off at the computer table itself. I’d though it was a nice idea to do it, it’d help me remember the things too, but *argh*, those bloody subscript and superscript almost killed me.
This stuff is really useful for CBSE class 11 and 12 students, for the qualitative salt analysis practicals; and I guess for other folks interested in chemistry too. Feedback and suggestions for improvement are welcome.
Update 1: I made a cellphone version of the salt analysis cheatsheet too.
Update 2: The cheatsheet has been updated. It’s now been condensed to a four-page affair, and some useless footnotes have been removed. A few tips have been added towards the end. In case you’re (still) interested in the old one, download version 1 of salt analysis cheatsheet.
Update 3: Kartik Mankad has informed me of some possible discrepancies in the cheatsheet. I’ll repeat them from everyone’s benefit here – but I haven’t checked this out in a lab. There might be a few things I skipped because our teachers told us not to bother with them. Kartik’s given some nice tips though. Thanks!
- Sulphite, nitrite, and sulphide are not in CBSE course.
- As mentioned right under the heading of ‘cations’ it says, “When phosphate is detected cations of group 3 and later are absent”. This rule is violated for many salts, for example nickel phosphate.
- The procedure for ring test is mentioned wrong. Our teacher specifically said NOT to add HNO3 and use only H2So4.
- Under flame test you may also add Pb salts, which give a bluish white flame.
- Deliquescence (the ability to absorb moisture) is a great tool in determining the salt/group. Example, Mg salts are HIGHLY deliquescent. MgCl2 makes the filter paper (on which it is kept) wet in minutes.
Readers' Comments
Want to read more posts? Use the search box below to find articles on my blog related to the topics you're interested in.
About
Awesome. Thanks. No suggestions though, since this probably the first time in 6 months I am seeing the analysis and tests again
Nice artemis style fonts, by the way
With nitrate however, there may be a case with different cation combinations that the test may show no colour at all. But that doesn’t mean it’s not nitrate, so one has to move on with the regular test just to confirm it.
I say this because we have a salt of this type in our lab. I believe it is Ammonium Nitrate …
you had to use “MAsOn” didnt you!!!
btw thanks this will come in handy
as me and rach had made the organic compound cheatsheet
only didnt get time to make this one.
@Ramit: The paper pellet test to see if fumes intensify is very good for detecting nitrates as far as I know…and I don’t think out lab has ammonium nitrate.
@Boris: I was also thinking of making a organic chemistry cheatsheet, when I get some free time.
u can take r organic cheatsheet, if u want…
where to download it?????
Very very nice work.
I have my Chemistry practicals on 7th Feb. Could you make a small 1 page PDF with this, which I can print and put to suitable use
?
@NT: There’s *quite* a bit of text actually in that, isn’t there? I did make a one sheet version, to be printed on both sides, but frankly, it wasn’t very usable because of the small font size. Here’s what I can advise you – use the cellphone version of the cheatsheet. It’s quite handy, and loads easily. And in case you don’t want to take the ‘added risk’ of carrying a cellphone, download that file anyway, and open it using any respectable archiver. Extract the file ‘book.txt’, and then print it with the smallest font size that you can humanely bear (and I’m sure it still won’t be readable). Methinks you can go ahead and print this version, AND keep it practicals. Many people in our school have done so. Who’ll bother to check pockets?
you just made my life a lot easier.. i have my 11th grade chem prac. tomorrow.
@Nikita: Thanks. Do check out the new version, will be useful in 12th too.
dude..thanks
Thanks A MILLION!…
This is exactly what I was looking for!
By the way, Nice Design!
@Nidhi and Catcatmu: Thanks! Nice to know that you found it useful.
Also worth noting is that if none of the indicatory tests for anions come up it can either be Nitrate or Acetate.
If its Acetate, then most labs only have Lead Acetate.
thanks a bunch dude
this is sooo fucking useful to me man
hey….i have a suggestion….
u can make a version of this cheatsheet fer dummies explainin every effing bit of it
thisll help if we haven attended any practical class and have no friggin clue abt it ryte?
cuz i really suck in chem and the teachers in
my school(indianhighschool dubai)arent hot stuff
so they dont really explain stuff properly
and i have my prac xam tommoro and i dunno what im gonna do abt it
@Manik: Dude, I’ve broken it down to everything step-by-step. What more can I give?
But anyway, I do hope you find this useful.
ohh mann.. thanx a ton.. hve my chem board prartical on 27th jan… was hvin heart attacks till nw..neway thanx a ton..n keep workin hard n harder…
Nice one! Would like to add that Baso4 is not availbale in labs too.
thankzzzz buddy…..i hav mah boardz practical tommorow
[...] of all, I want to take the opportunity to thank Ankur Banerjee, aka GQ, for creating the Chemistry Qualitative Salt Analysis Cheatsheet. It definitely helps you for your Board Chemistry practicals, by giving you an all in one cheat [...]
DUDE! You ROCK! I can’t thank you enough!
thanx a ton.. precisely what i was lukin for..
though one thig.. it wud av bin nice if u wud av had smthing for the equations as well..
anyways thanx yet again..!!
Equations are way too many!
i noe.. but the most important.. the school walahs do want them..
but anyways your work is appreciable..n extremely useful..
Gr88 work!!
God Bless
How do you come up with this stuff. Good work man. May penguin bless you.
I made this for myself, found it extremely useful, and being the open-source loving guy that I am, decided to upload it online.
Thank you very much Ankur for the cheatsheet…
Thanks a lot Ankur!It is really of great help to me and my friends! May god bless u!
Nice but is not sufficient
this I can tell from my todays experience as today was my practical…….
This isn’t intended as a replacement for your lab manual; it’s for revising through stuff quickly.
nice but unfortunately propr chem. eqs are reqd 4 d practicl too…
This is only meant as a quick reference sheet, not a replacement for texbook material.
bhagwan aapko lambi umar de, now i can pass in my chem practicals. thnx a ton
[...] CBSE Salt Analysis January 31, 2010 crazybeggar Leave a comment Go to comments Inspired by Ankur cheatseet which you can get here. [...]