A scheme of qualitative analysis for twenty common cations

Abstract

A qualitative scheme has been devised for the separation and subsequent identification of twenty common cations in 1 drop of unknown mixture by the ring-oven technique. The solution containing the unknown mixture is spotted on to a circular filter-paper, and it is then separated into different small groups containing not more than four cations by washing the spot with appropriate organic solvents. The separated cations are collected in the form of thin rings, 22 mm in diameter, on separate filter-papers. The rings of the deposited cations are then cut into sectors depending on the number of the metal ions present in a particular ring and tested for individual ions with the specific chromogenic reagents.