Qualitative Analysis - Result Question 25

25. The reagent(s) that can selectively precipitate $S^{2-}$ from a mixture of $S^{2-}$ and $SO _4^{2-}$ in aqueous solution is (are)

(2016 Adv.)

(a) $CuCl _2$

(b) $BaCl _2$

(c) $Pb\left(OOCCH _3\right) _2$

(d) $Na _2\left[Fe(CN) _5 NO\right]$

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Answer:

Correct Answer: 25. (a)

Solution:

$S^{2-}+CuCl _2 \longrightarrow CuS \downarrow$ (black ppt.)

$SO _4^{2-}+CuCl _2 \longrightarrow \text { Soluble, Thus }$

(a) $CuCl _2$ selectively precipitates $S^{2-}$.

(b) $S^{2-}+BaCl _2 \longrightarrow BaS \downarrow$ (soluble)

$SO _4^{2-}+BaCl _2 \longrightarrow BaSO _4 \downarrow \text { (white ppt.) }$

precipitates $SO _4^{2-}$ and not $S^{2-}$.

(c) $S^{2-}+Pb^{2+} \longrightarrow PbS \downarrow$ (black ppt.)

$SO _4^{2-}+Pb^{2+} \longrightarrow PbSO _4 \downarrow$ (white ppt.)

$S^{2-}$ and $SO _4^{2-}$, both are precipitated.

(d) $\mathrm{S}^{2-}+\underset{\text { Sodium nitroprusside }}{\mathrm{Na}_2[\mathrm{Fe}(\mathrm{CN})]_5 \mathrm{NO}} \longrightarrow \underset{\text { (Purple colour) }}{\left.\mathrm{Na}_4[\mathrm{Fe}(\mathrm{CN})]_5 \mathrm{NOS}\right]}$

But no colour with $SO _4^{2-}$.