BaCl₂ (Barium Chloride) Salt Analysis – CBSE Class 12

1. Preliminary Examination

• Appearance: White, crystalline solid, soluble in water.
• Flame Test: Green coloration (Barium compounds impart apple green color to flame).

2. Dry Heating Test

• Observation: No change; chloride is stable to heat.

3. Action with Dilute and Concentrated H₂SO₄

• With Dilute H₂SO₄: White ppt. of BaSO₄ formed (insoluble in acids).
• With Concentrated H₂SO₄: Same as above, white ppt. (BaSO₄).
• Inference: Confirms Ba²⁺ ions due to insoluble BaSO₄ formation.

4. Confirmatory Tests for Ba²⁺ (Barium) – with Chemical Reactions

Test	Procedure	Observation	Inference	Chemical Reaction
Flame Test	Moisten a clean platinum wire, dip in salt, place in non-luminous flame.	Apple green flame	Presence of Ba²⁺	Ba²⁺ + heat → Excited Ba* → Apple green color (no chemical reaction, physical process)
With K₂CrO₄ Solution	Add K₂CrO₄ to salt solution.	Yellow ppt. of BaCrO₄	Ba²⁺ confirmed	BaCl₂ + K₂CrO₄ → BaCrO₄↓ (yellow) + 2KCl
With (NH₄)₂CO₃ Solution	Add ammonium carbonate to salt solution, warm gently.	White ppt. of BaCO₃	Ba²⁺ confirmed	BaCl₂ + (NH₄)₂CO₃ → BaCO₃↓ (white) + 2NH₄Cl
With Na₂SO₄ Solution	Add Na₂SO₄ to salt solution.	White ppt. of BaSO₄ (insoluble in conc. HNO₃)	Ba²⁺ confirmed	BaCl₂ + Na₂SO₄ → BaSO₄↓ (white) + 2NaCl
With Dil. H₂SO₄	Add dil. sulphuric acid to salt solution.	White ppt. of BaSO₄	Ba²⁺ confirmed	BaCl₂ + H₂SO₄ → BaSO₄↓ (white) + 2HCl

5. Test for Anion (Cl⁻: Chloride) – with Chemical Reactions

Test	Procedure	Observation	Inference	Chemical Reaction
Silver Nitrate Test	Add AgNO₃ to salt solution acidified with dilute HNO₃.	White curdy ppt. (soluble in ammonium hydroxide)	Cl⁻ confirmed	BaCl₂ + 2AgNO₃ → 2AgCl↓ (white) + Ba(NO₃)₂
Ammonium Hydroxide on AgCl	Add NH₄OH to AgCl ppt.	Ppt. dissolves	Confirms Cl⁻ (AgCl soluble in NH₄OH)	AgCl + 2NH₄OH → [Ag(NH₃)₂]Cl (soluble) + 2H₂O
Confirm with Lead Acetate	Add Pb(CH₃COO)₂ to salt solution.	No ppt. (distinguishes from other halides)	Cl⁻ confirmed (others give ppt.)	BaCl₂ + Pb(CH₃COO)₂ → No visible ppt. (PbCl₂ slightly soluble in cold water)

6. Summary of Identification

• Cation: Ba²⁺ (Barium)
• Anion: Cl⁻ (Chloride)
• Salt: BaCl₂ (Barium Chloride)

7. Key Points for Practical Exam

• Always perform flame test in the beginning.
• Write balanced chemical reactions for each confirmatory test.
• Note color, solubility, and confirmatory ppt. behavior for identification.