Note : Some Important Sulphide and other with their colours

PbS, Ag2S, FeS, HgS, CaS ⇒ Black.

ZnS, MnS ⇒ White
CdS, As2S3 ⇒ Yellow
Sb2S3 ⇒ Orange
Bi2S3 ⇒ Dark brown
HgI2 ⇒ Red
Hg2I2 ⇒ Green
Black ⇒ MnO2, Fe3O4, CuO, Ni2O3, FeO
Dark brown ⇒ Fe2O3, CuCrO4
Red ⇒ Pb3O4
Blood red ⇒ Ag2CrO4, Hg2CrO4
Yellow ⇒ HgSO4

Note : Some Important precipitate insoluble in any

concentrate acid
Yellow AgBr, AgI
Green Cr2O3, Cr2(SO4)3
Black HgS
Violet CrCl3 (Mineral)
Dark red Fe2O3
Brown SnS2
White BaSO4, SrSO4, PbSO4, CaF2,
AgCl, SnO2, Al2O3

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 Solubility of Salts

Solubility of salts
S.No. Observation Solubility in water
1. Nitrates and nitrites All metal are water soluble.
2. Acetates All metal acetates are water
soluble.
3. Chlorides All are water soluble except AgCl,
Hg2Cl2 and PbCl2.
4. Bromides All are water soluble except AgBr,
Hg2Br2 PbBr2 and HgBr2.
5. Iodides All are water soluble except AgI,
Hg2I2, PbI2, HgI2.
6. Sulphates All are water soluble except CaSO4,
SrSO4, BaSO4, PbSO4, Hg2SO4,
Ag2SO4.
7. Sulphides All are water insoluble except gp.
1 and 2 sulphides and (NH4)2S.
8. Carbonates All are water insoluble except gp.
1 carbonates and (NH4)2CO3.
9. Phosphates All are water insoluble except gp.
1 phosphates and (NH4)3PO4.
10. Hydroxides All are water insoluble except
gp. 1 hydroxides and same gp.
2 hydrogen such as Ba(OH)2,
Sr(OH)2 and Ca(OH)2.

1.57
 Note :
(i) Some basic carbonates like those of Bi, Ba, Pb etc.
evolve CO2 gradually with H2SO4. Here dilute HCl
must be used.
(ii) SO2 also turns lime water milky. Into solution
SO32– or S2–, a few crystal must be added in the
mixture and then test for CO32– must be performed.
(iii) PbCO3 initially reacts vigorously with HCl or H2SO4,
but reaction slows down due to formation of protective
covering of PbCl2 or PbSO4 on the surface of salt.
(iv) Some sulphides (e.g., PbS, CdS, NiS, SnS, Sb2S3
etc.) are not composed by dilute HCl and conc. HCl
is used here. HgS is insoluble even in conc. HCl.
For HgS, aqua-regia is used.
In case of these sulphides Zn/HCl or Sn/HCl may
also be used. H2SO4 may also be used with Zn or
Sn.
(v) Before testing CH3COO– by ferric acetate, the solution
should not contain radicals which combines with
Fe3+. Thus, radicals like CO32–, SO32–, PO42–, I– etc.
must be removed by adding AgNO3 before performing
ferric chloride test.
(vi) Like SO2, H2S also turns potassium dichromate
paper green. So, before testing SO32–, S2– must be
tested and if present it should be removed.
(vii) If a mixture containing NO2–, also contain I–, then
violet fumes will be evolved on addition of dil. H2SO4.

1.58