Question

Identify the cation and anion in a given salt :
1.physical characteristics of salt.
2.dry and wet test for cation
3.dry and wet test for anion
4.confirmatory test for anion and cation

Answer 1

1. $\textbf{physical characteristics of salt}$ : we can identify the cation and anion in a given salt by using physical characteristics like color, taste, odor, melting point, solubility product etc..
from colors we observed : potassium dichromate, K2Cr2O7 ( orange) , potassium permanganate,KMnO4(violet), Ferric oxide, Fe3O4 (black), Ferrous sulphate , FeSO4.7H2O(green) etc.. here you can see same cation for different anions having different colours.

2. $\textbf{dry and wet test for cations}$: borax bead test is mostly used in case of dry test for cations. This test is employed only for coloured salts because borax reacts with metal salts to form metal borates or metals, which have characteristic colours. see attachment to understand it.
see flow chart to understand wet test of cations.

3. $\textbf{dry and wet test of anions}$ : The identification of the radicals is first done on the basis of the preliminary tests. The Dry heating test is one of the preliminary tests performed earlier which may give some important information about the acid radical present. The other preliminary tests are based on the fact that:
CO3²-, S²-, NO2- and SO3²- react with dil. H2SO4 to give out CO2, H2S, NO2, and SO2 gases respectively. These gases on identification indicate the nature of the anion present in the salt.
Cl-,Br-, NO3- and C2O4²- and CH3COO- react with conc.H2SO4 but not with dil. H2SO4 to produce characteristic gases.

SO4²- and PO4³- neither react with dil H2SO4 nor conc. H2SO4.
so, we can identified the anions by using H2SO4.

4. $\textbf{confirmatory test for anions and cations}$:- as it is clear by name. Confirmatory tests are the tests required to confirm the analysis. you can confirm the cation and anions by using these test. there are many process which are helpful to confirm a cation or an anion in a given salt. like confirmatory test for NH4+ ion, Ammonia gas evolved by the action of sodium hydroxide on ammonium salts reacts with hydrochloric acid to give ammonium chloride, which is visible as dense white fume.

Answer 2

There are many test which is done in the laboratory for the Identification of the Cation and Anion in the Laboratory.

Since, you have not mentioned the one cation or anion which need to be tested, therefore let me give the simple applications which are used for detection of salts in the laboratory.

Detection of Cation and Anion is the Part of the Chemistry Practical of Class 11th and 12th, and it is one of the Interesting practical.

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We will be given one salt and we need to detect the cation and anion present in that salt.

1. Physical Characteristics ⇒ While detecting the cation or anion, we first see its color, odour, etc.

For example, Copper Sulphate is Blue, Color of Lead acetate is white crystalline, etc.

2. Dry and wet test of Cation ⇒   Dry tests are those tests which are performed with the solid salt (or a mixture of salts), while wet tests are those tests which are preformed by dissolving the salt. (or mixture of salts) in water, acid or any other solvent.

Generally in dry and wet test for colored salts,  we uses a compound named Sodium Borate. Sodium Borate(or Borax) is one of the compound of the Boron which is the mandatory part of every chemistry laboratory.

Chemical formula for Sodium Borate is Na₂[B₄O₅(OH)₅]·8H₂O.

For Uncolored salts, other solvents like Mohr's salt or Kessler's Reagfent is used.

3. Dry and wet test for anion ⇒ The dry test of anion is a basic test performed to detect the presence of element in compound by introducing the sample to the flame for noting the color produced, since some common and the certain element can be detected by means of their characteristic flame color.  

The wet test of an anion is the test which is based on the principle of treating solution with succession of reagents so that each reagent can separate a group of reagent.

4. Confirmatory Test for Cation and Anions ⇒ It is the Final test after which experiment on detection is completed. During this test, we confirm the presence and can say surely that that cation or anion is present in the given salt.

Some peoples do not perform each test as stated above but directly come to this test. In this test, we do some chemical reaction of the salt with the Other compounds to detect it presence.

For example, Ammonium salt can be detected by Kessler's Reagent. Copper salt give Chocolaty color in the Potassium Ferrocyanide solution.

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Hope it helps.