MCQEasyJEE 2026Salt Analysis (Cations & Anions)

JEE Chemistry 2026 Question with Solution

In the group analysis of cations, Ba2+^{2+} & Ca2+^{2+} are precipitated respectively as

  • A

    hydroxide & carbonate

  • B

    sulphide & sulphide

  • C

    chromate & sulphide

  • D

    carbonate & carbonate

Answer

Correct answer:D

Step-by-step solution

Standard Method

Given: The question asks the precipitated forms of Ba2+^{2+} and Ca2+^{2+} in group analysis of cations.

Find: The correct precipitated forms of these two cations.

In qualitative inorganic analysis, Ba2+^{2+} and Ca2+^{2+} belong to the alkaline earth metal group and are separated by selective precipitation.

Both ions are precipitated when ammonium carbonate is added under suitable conditions:

Ba2++CO32BaCO3\text{Ba}^{2+} + \text{CO}_3^{2-} \rightarrow \text{BaCO}_3 Ca2++CO32CaCO3\text{Ca}^{2+} + \text{CO}_3^{2-} \rightarrow \text{CaCO}_3

So, Ba2+^{2+} is precipitated as barium carbonate and Ca2+^{2+} is precipitated as calcium carbonate.

The other options are incorrect because hydroxides or sulphides of these ions are not the precipitates used in this step of group analysis, and chromate is not the required precipitate for Ca2+^{2+} here.

Therefore, both are precipitated as carbonates, so the correct option is D.

Option-wise Elimination

Given: Four possible precipitated forms are listed for Ba2+^{2+} and Ca2+^{2+}.

Find: Which option matches qualitative group analysis.

  1. Option A: hydroxide & carbonate This is incorrect because Ba2+^{2+} is not identified in this group as hydroxide.

  2. Option B: sulphide & sulphide This is incorrect because sulphide precipitation is not the group separation step for Ba2+^{2+} and Ca2+^{2+}.

  3. Option C: chromate & sulphide This is incorrect because Ca2+^{2+} is not precipitated as sulphide in this analysis step.

  4. Option D: carbonate & carbonate This matches the known qualitative analysis behavior, where both ions form insoluble carbonates.

Therefore, the correct option is D.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming Ba2+^{2+} and Ca2+^{2+} are precipitated as hydroxides is incorrect because that is not the selective group reagent step used here. In group analysis, use the carbonate precipitation step instead.

  • Confusing sulphide precipitation with alkaline earth metal analysis is wrong because Ba2+^{2+} and Ca2+^{2+} are not separated as sulphides in this scheme. Recall the correct group reagent and corresponding carbonate precipitates.

  • Treating chromate precipitation as the standard test for both ions is incorrect. While chromate may appear in specific confirmatory contexts, the group precipitation step for both ions here is as carbonates.

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