JEE Main 2023 — Salt Analysis Question with Solution

In the wet test for detection of Group 5 cations, including Ba²⁺, Ca²⁺, and Sr²⁺, ammonium carbonate ((NH₄)₂CO₃) is used as a group reagent. The reaction with barium ions (Ba²⁺) can be written as :

$${\mathrm{Ba}}^{2+}+{\left({\mathrm{NH}}_4\right)}_2{\mathrm{CO}}_3\to \underset{\text{(white precipitate)}}{{\mathrm{BaCO}}_3\downarrow }+2{\mathrm{NH}}_4^{+}$$

Upon adding ammonium carbonate to the solution containing Ba²⁺ ions, a white precipitate of barium carbonate (BaCO₃) is formed, which can be used to identify the presence of barium ions in the sample.