Experiment 21: IDENTIFYING THE Ba++ BASIC RADICAL PRESENT IN GIVEN INORGANIC SALT
OBJECTIVE:
TO IDENTIFY THE BASIC RADICAL PRESENT IN GIVEN INORGANIC SALT
APPARATUS REQUIRED
- Test tube
- Test tube holder
CHEMICALS REQUIRED
- Dil. HCl
- H2S
- NH4OH
- NH4Cl
- NaOH
- (NH4)2CO3
THEORY
Qualitative inorganic analysis is concerned with the detection and identification of radicals present in inorganic salt or a mixture of salts. Inorganic salts are the outcome of the neutralization of acids with base. Each inorganic salt consists of two parts. The part contributed by acid is called acid radical or anion and the part contributed by base is called basic radical or cation. For example, in sodium chloride, which can be obtained by the neutralization of base NaOH with acid HCl, Na+ is the basic radical and Cl– is the acid radical.
PROCEDURE
The original solution was prepared by dissolving the given salt sample in water. The sample was subjected to several tests to detect the basic radical of the salt.
OBSERVATION
1. Preliminary test:
a. State: Solid
b. Odour: Odourless
c. Colour: White
d. Solubility: Soluble in water
Group Separation Table
Experiment | Observation | Inference |
1. 2 ml of the original solution was taken in a clean and dry test tube and a few drops of dil. HCl was added to it. | White ppt. was not formed | Absence of Group I metal ions |
2. The solution above was passed to the H2S solution. | No any ppt. was formed | Absence of Group II metal ions |
3. 2 ml of the original solution was taken in a clean and dry test tube and a double volume of NH4Cl was added and shaked. Then NH4OH solution was added. | No any ppt. was formed | Absence of Group IIIA metal ions |
4. The solution above in 3 was warmed and H2S was passed. | Black ppt. was not formed | Absence of Group IIIB metal ions |
5. The solution above in 3 was warmed and H2S were passed. | No any ppt. was formed. | Absence of Group IIIB metal ions |
5. 2 ml of the original solution was taken in a clean and dry test tube and NH4Cl and NH4OH solution were added. It was warmed and ammonium carbonate solution was added. | White ppt. was formed | Presence of Group IV metal ions |
2. Confirmatory test for group IV metal ion (Sr++, Ca++, Ba++):
Experiment | Observation | Inference |
1. 2 ml of the original solution was taken in a clean and dry test tube and a few drops of K2CrO4 solution were added to it. | Yellow ppt. appeared which was insoluble in acetic acid. | Presence of Ba++ |
Test of Ca++ ion
Experiment | Observation | Inference |
1. 2 ml of the original solution was taken in a clean and dry test tube and a few drops of (NH4)2CO3 solution were added to it. | White ppt. was formed and dissolved in acetic acid and dil. HCl with effervescence. | Presence of Ba++ |
2. 2 ml of the original solution was taken in a clean and dry test tube and a few drops of (NH4)2C2O4 solution were added to it. | White ppt. was formed and dissolved in acetic acid and in dil. HCl. | Presence of Ba++ |
3. 2 ml of the original solution was taken in a clean and dry test tube and a few drops of CaSO4 solution was added to it. | White ppt. was formed which was insoluble in dil. HCl | Presence of Ba++ |
Reactions involved:

RESULT
Hence, the sample was identified as Ba++ basic radical.
CONCLUSION
Hence, we can test the basic radicals of a salt by wet ways testing the original solution with several reagents.
PRECAUTION
- Concentrated solutions should be handled carefully.
- The colour of the precipitate should be observed carefully.
- Check whether the original solution is clear and transparent.